The Showdown (rugby union) explained

The Showdown (previously known as Derby Day) is the annual showpiece rugby union match hosted by Saracens in Premiership Rugby, the top-flight professional rugby competition in England.[1] Starting in 2009, the event has served as the club's marquee home fixture during each domestic season, usually against their closest rivals, fellow London club Harlequins.[2] To date, the fixture has taken place at three large-capacity stadiums around the team's home city of London – Wembley Stadium, London Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – and it has regularly achieved among the biggest crowds in the league since the 2009–10 season.[3]

The event is notable for holding the current record for the highest ever attendance for a Premiership Rugby match, under its previous branding of 'Derby Day'. This record was set during the match between Saracens and Harlequins at Wembley on 28 March 2015, which had a live gate of 84,068 people – then a world record for a domestic club rugby union match, until this was broken by the 2016 Top 14 final.[4] In addition, under its current branding of 'The Showdown', the fixture also holds the record as the most-watched Premiership game in the competition's 26-year history. This record was set during the match between Saracens and Harlequins on 25 March 2023, which attracted a combined peak television audience of 1.516 million people, accounting for 7.1 per cent share of all British TV viewers at that time. The figure surpassed the previous record, which had been set during the 2022 Premiership final, by 200,000 viewers.[5]

The rivalry between Saracens and Harlequins also extends into women's rugby.[6] Beginning in 2021, Premiership Women's Rugby clubs Saracens Women and Harlequins Women have met at Barnet Copthall each season for their own version of the annual showpiece match, under the banner of The Duel.[7]

History

Prior to launching their own showpiece event, Saracens had frequently been involved in the London Double Header at Twickenham Stadium, which took place between 2004 and 2017.[8] Subsequently, for the 2009–10 season, the club announced it would stage three of its Premiership home games – as well as a special exhibition match against South Africa – at Wembley Stadium, in a bid to boost supporter numbers.[9]

The event then moved to a once-a-year schedule, before being formally branded as 'Derby Day' in 2012, with local rivals Harlequins as the regular opponents. Between 2012 and 2015, this fixture broke the world record for a club rugby attendance on three occasions.[10] After eight years at Wembley Stadium, Derby Day switched over to the London Stadium – the home of Premier League football club West Ham – in 2018 and 2019.[11]

In 2019, Saracens announced an initial five-year stadium partnership with Tottenham Hotspur to host annual fixtures, under the new banner of 'The Showdown', at the Premier League club's ground.[12] The opening installment of this collaboration was originally due to occur March 2020 – however, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of the 2019–20 season before this date.[13] As a consequence, when the league resumed, games were played behind closed doors over the next six months.[14] Once full-capacity crowds were allowed to return to stadia at the start of the 2021–22 season, Saracens finally held their first game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in March 2022, against Bristol.[15] Thereafter, the fixture reverted to the usual rivalry match-up with Harlequins from 2023 onwards.[16]

Results summary

The following table outlines the results of each showpiece match hosted by Saracens in Premiership Rugby:

Winning teams are listed in bold and tied results are listed in italics

SeasonRoundDateHostScoreOpponentStadiumAttendance
2009–10212 September 2009Saracens19–16NorthamptonWembley Stadium44,832
2009–101413 February 2010Saracens25–20WorcesterWembley Stadium40,163
2009–102017 April 2010Saracens37–18HarlequinsWembley Stadium47,106
2010–111126 December 2010Saracens13–6WaspsWembley Stadium38,425
2011–121931 March 2012Saracens19–24HarlequinsWembley Stadium83,761
2012–13315 September 2012Saracens9–9LeicesterWembley Stadium41,063
2013–141722 March 2014Saracens39–17HarlequinsWembley Stadium83,889
2014–151828 March 2015Saracens42–14HarlequinsWembley Stadium84,068
2015–162016 April 2016Saracens22–12HarlequinsWembley Stadium80,650
2016–17198 April 2017Saracens40–19HarlequinsWembley Stadium71,324
2017–181824 March 2018Saracens24–11HarlequinsLondon Stadium55,329
2018–191723 March 2019Saracens27–20HarlequinsLondon Stadium42,717
2019–201522 August 2020Saracens38–24HarlequinsAllianz Park0
2021–222126 March 2022Saracens27–23BristolTottenham Hotspur Stadium49,376
2022–232125 March 2023Saracens36–24HarlequinsTottenham Hotspur Stadium55,109
2023–241323 March 2024Saracens52–7HarlequinsTottenham Hotspur Stadium61,214
2024–251222 March 2025SaracensHarlequinsTottenham Hotspur Stadium

Match details

Saracens vs Northampton (2009)

See also: 2009–10 Premiership Rugby. Saracens held their first ever standalone showpiece match at Wembley Stadium in September 2009, defeating Northampton Saints by a score of 19–16. With a crowd of almost 45,000, the club also smashed its record attendance for a home game, with the next best figure recorded as 19,000, which was set during a league match at Vicarage Road in 1998.[17]

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Saracens vs Worcester (2010)

See also: 2009–10 Premiership Rugby. After setting a club attendance record in their inaugural appearance at Wembley Stadium, Saracens announced that they would stage two additional home fixtures at the ground during the 2009–10 season.[18] In the first of these two extra games at Wembley, they beat Worcester Warriors by a score of 25–20.[19]

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Saracens vs Harlequins (2010)

See also: 2009–10 Premiership Rugby. For the club's third and final visit to Wembley Stadium in the 2009–10 season, Saracens faced rivals Harlequins for the first time, establishing the basis for the showpiece fixture's future identity as 'Derby Day' and 'The Showdown'. Saracens were victorious, with the final score of 37–18.[20]

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Saracens vs Wasps (2010)

See also: 2010–11 Premiership Rugby. Saracens welcomed London Wasps for their return to Wembley Stadium on Boxing Day 2010.[21] The home team picked up the victory with a final score of 13–6.[22]

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Derby Day 1 (2012)

See also: 2011–12 Premiership Rugby. Saracens and Harlequins contested the first incarnation of Derby Day at Wembley Stadium in March 2012, with the visitors emerging as the winners by 24–19 – the first and, to date, only away victory in this showpiece fixture.[23] The match-day gate of 83,761 set a new world record for a rugby union club match, which was previously held by the 2009–10 Heineken Cup quarter-final match between Leinster and Munster at Croke Park.[24]

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Saracens vs Leicester (2012)

See also: 2012–13 Premiership Rugby. Saracens hosted Leicester Tigers for the 2012–13 showpiece at Wembley Stadium, instead of regular visitors Harlequins.[25] The match ended in 9–9 draw – the first and, to date, only deadlocked result in the event's history.[26]

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Derby Day 2 (2014)

See also: 2013–14 Premiership Rugby. Beginning in the 2013–14 season, Saracens moved Derby Day to a consistent time slot in the spring, taking place shortly after the Six Nations Championship, with the target of improving on their attendance record from the 2011–12 season.[27] In front of a new world record crowd of 83,889, which exceeded the figure set in the same fixture two seasons earlier, they triumphed over Harlequins with a final score of 39–17.[28]

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Derby Day 3 (2015)

See also: 2014–15 Premiership Rugby. Saracens and Harlequins confirmed that they would continue their burgeoning rivalry with a return to Wembley Stadium in March 2015.[29] Saracens took the victory with a final score of 42–14 – their largest winning margin at the stadium. For the third consecutive meeting between the two teams at Wembley, a new world record was set, as 84,068 supporters attended to create the biggest ever crowd for a rugby union club match.[30]

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Derby Day 4 (2016)

See also: 2015–16 Premiership Rugby. Saracens and Harlequins met at Wembley Stadium once again in April 2016, with the home club earning the win with a score of 22–12. Although the fixture did not set a new attendance record, the match-day gate exceeded 80,000 for the third year in a row.[31]

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Derby Day 5 (2017)

See also: 2016–17 Premiership Rugby. The 2017 edition of Derby Day was the event's last appearance at Wembley Stadium, before moving to alternative venues in subsequent years.[32] Saracens beat Harlequins by a score of 40–19.[33]

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Derby Day 6 (2018)

See also: 2017–18 Premiership Rugby. Ahead of the 2017–18 season, Saracens announced that their annual Derby Day fixture against Harlequins would take place at London Stadium for the first time.[34] In the first ever Premiership match at the venue, Saracens won with a score of 24–11.[35]

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Derby Day 7 (2019)

See also: 2018–19 Premiership Rugby. Saracens confirmed they would return for their second and final outing at the London Stadium in March 2019.[36] The home side earned the win over Harlequins with a final score of 27–20.[37]

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The Showdown 1 (2020)

See also: 2019–20 Premiership Rugby. The first edition of The Showdown, contested between Saracens and Harlequins, was originally scheduled for the final weekend of March 2020.[38] However, the outbreak of COVID-19 forced its delay until August 2020 and prevented it from being held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Hosted instead at Barnet Copthall, Saracens won the match with a bonus point, by a score of 38–24.[39]

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The Showdown 2 (2022)

See also: 2021–22 Premiership Rugby. The second edition of The Showdown, contested between Saracens and Bristol Bears, finally saw the event's debut at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in March 2022, a week after the end of the 2022 Six Nations Championship.[40] Televised live on BT Sport, Saracens emerged victorious with a score of 27–23.[41]

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The Showdown 3 (2023)

See also: 2022–23 Premiership Rugby. The third edition of The Showdown, contested between Saracens and Harlequins, again took place one week on from the conclusion of the 2023 Six Nations Championship.[42] Saracens achieved a bonus-point victory, with a score of 36–24, which also secured them a home berth in the 2022–23 Premiership play-offs.[43] The game notably recorded the largest match-day attendance of the entire 2022–23 regular season. Broadcast simultaneously on both BT Sport and ITV, it also set a new viewership record, drawing the biggest ever audience for a Premiership match.[44]

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The Showdown 4 (2024)

See also: 2023–24 Premiership Rugby. The fourth edition of The Showdown saw Saracens face off against Harlequins for the second year in a row – taking place when the 2023–24 Premiership season resumed, one weekend after the 2024 Six Nations Championship had concluded.[45] In front of their biggest crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to date, Saracens achieved their largest ever victory over Harlequins, with a score of 52–7.[46]

A new individual record was also set during the match, as Saracens fly-half and captain Owen Farrell, on the occasion of his 250th appearance for the club, brought his total career points tally against Harlequins to 278 – the most ever by one player against a single Premiership team.[47] As with the previous year, the fixture's simultaneous live broadcasts on ITV and TNT Sports broke Premiership television audience records, this time drawing the highest average viewership in the competition's history, at 913,000 people.[48]

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The Showdown 5 (2025)

See also: 2024–25 Premiership Rugby. For the third year running, Saracens will welcome Harlequins to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the fifth edition of The Showdown. The match will coincide with one of two designated 'Derby Weekends' scheduled during the 2024–25 season, which exclusively feature matches between local rivals.[49] ----

Saracens vs South Africa (2009 exhibition match)

Saracens vs South Africa
Event:2009 Autumn Series
Team1:Saracens
Team1score:24
Team2:South Africa
Team2association:
Team2score:23
Date:17 November 2009
Stadium:Wembley Stadium
City:London
Man Of The Match1a: Wikus van Heerden (Saracens)
Referee: James Jones (WRU)
Attendance:46,281

In September 2009, Saracens scheduled a special exhibition friendly against South Africa at Wembley Stadium in November – coinciding with the 2009 autumn internationals, during which the Springboks had lined up a tour of the Northern Hemisphere.[50] The announcement followed investment into Saracens earlier in 2009 by a South African consortium, which included former Springbok captains Francois Pienaar and Morné du Plessis.[51] The new investors stated that the game was part of their objective to expand the club's supporter base, by tapping into the UK's South African expatriate community, and a number of players from the country were recruited to join Saracens ahead of the 2009–10 Premiership season, under South African director of rugby Brendan Venter.[52]

The exhibition match took place on 17 November 2009, in front of a then-record live crowd for a Saracens fixture, with a total of 46,281 people in attendance.[53] For the game, Saracens selected 10 South Africa-born players in their 22-man matchday squad.[54] Overcoming a 12-point half-time deficit, Saracens eventually claimed a 24–23 victory, with former Springbok fly-half Derick Hougaard kicking the winning drop goal for the London club.[55]

To date, this remains the only rugby union fixture to be contested between Saracens and South Africa, despite suggestions of a potential rematch over the subsequent years.[56] Another exhibition game between the club and South African side Stormers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had been announced for an unconfirmed date in 2021, but this event ultimately never came to fruition, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[57]

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The Duel (women's rugby)

As with their male counterparts, Saracens Women and Harlequins Women established a strong rivalry in Premiership Women's Rugby (formerly known as Premier 15s), having finished in the top two and competed in the play-off final in three consecutive seasons.[58] During the 2019–20 season, Saracens announced that their home fixture against Harlequins would become an annual showpiece event under the banner of 'The Duel' – however, the first of these games, which was originally scheduled for April 2020, was cancelled, after the entire season was abandoned, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[59] The launch eventually took place at the StoneX Stadium during the 2020–21 season.

Results summary

The following table outlines the results of each showpiece match hosted by Saracens Women in Premiership Women's Rugby:

Winning teams are listed in bold and tied results are listed in italics

SeasonRoundDateHostScoreOpponentStadiumAttendance
2020–211627 March 2021Saracens17–17HarlequinsStoneX Stadium
2021–22812 December 2021Saracens17–36HarlequinsStoneX Stadium
2022–231118 February 2023Saracens32–12HarlequinsStoneX Stadium2,992
2023–241110 February 2024Saracens29–24HarlequinsStoneX Stadium3,071
2024–25SaracensHarlequinsStoneX Stadium

Match details

The Duel 1 (2021)

See also: 2020–21 Premier 15s. Saracens and Harlequins contested The Duel for the first time in March 2021.[60] Due to temporary law changes implemented for the 2020–21 Premier 15s season, this was the only instance that the showpiece fixture had a 70-minute duration, rather than the usual 80 minutes.[61] The match ultimately concluded in a 17–17 draw.[62]

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The Duel 2 (2021)

See also: 2021–22 Premier 15s. Saracens hosted the second edition of The Duel in December 2021.[63] On this occasion, Harlequins won by a score of 36–17.[64]

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The Duel 3 (2023)

See also: 2022–23 Premier 15s. Saracens and Harlequins again met for the third incarnation of The Duel in February 2023.[65] Saracens emerged as the victors, with a final score of 32–12.[66] The event set a new club attendance record for a women's rugby home game, recording a live gate of 2,992 people.[67]

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The Duel 4 (2024)

See also: 2023–24 Premiership Women's Rugby. Saracens announced the return of The Duel for the fourth consecutive season in February 2024, with rivals Harlequins again confirmed as the opponents.[68] Saracens withstood a late Harlequins comeback to claim victory, by a score of 29–24.[69] For the second year in a row, the fixture recorded the largest ever crowd for a Saracens women's home match, exceeding 3,000 attendees at the StoneX Stadium for the first time.[70]

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See also

Notes and References

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  2. News: Why Harlequins v Saracens is English rugby's bitterest rivalry . www.thetimes.co.uk . . 10 June 2022 . 17 July 2023 . en-UK.
  3. News: Nigel Wray's vision of selling out Wembley finally becomes a reality . . 28 March 2012 . 17 July 2023 . en-UK.
  4. News: Saracens put on a show in front of world record crowd at Wembley . www.eurosport.co.uk/rugby . . 17 July 2023 . en-UK.
  5. News: Premiership Rugby smashes TV record with Farrell v Smith showdown . www.rugbyworld.com . . 29 March 2023 . 11 July 2023 . en-UK.
  6. News: Premier 15s: Why Harlequins and Saracens are better together . www.bbc.co.uk/sport . . 4 February 2023 . 30 July 2023 . en-UK.
  7. News: Sarries vs Quins: Premier 15s' unmissable duel . www.rugbypass.com . Rugby Pass . 15 February 2023 . 30 July 2023 . en-UK.
  8. News: Brendan Venter hails Saracens fly-half Glen Jackson after London Irish win . www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport . . 7 September 2009 . 17 July 2023 . en-UK.
  9. News: Saracens set to take on South Africa at Wembley . www.standard.co.uk/sport . . 29 September 2009 . 17 July 2023 . en-UK.
  10. News: Largest attendance at a Rugby Union club match . www.guinnessworldrecords.com . . 22 March 2014 . 17 July 2023 . en-UK.
  11. News: Saracens V Harlequins – A Fixture Steeped In History . www.london-stadium.com . . 15 March 2018 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  12. News: Spurs, Saracens confirm five-year stadium deal . www.espn.co.uk/rugby . . 2 April 2019 . 11 July 2023 . en-UK.
  13. News: Premiership Rugby season suspended indefinitely due to coronavirus pandemic . www.standard.co.uk/sport . . 8 April 2020 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  14. News: Rugby facing prospect of no fans in stadiums for six months . www.rugbyworld.com . . 23 September 2020 . 11 July 2023 . en-UK.
  15. News: Why are Saracens bringing rugby to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium? . www.saracens.com . . 14 March 2022 . 11 July 2023 . en-UK.
  16. News: 'It's a proper rivalry, I'd say there is as close to hatred there' . www.rugbypass.com . Rugby Pass . 11 June 2022 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  17. News: Noah Cato touches down as Saracens enjoy Wembley triumph . . 12 September 2009 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  18. News: Saracens announce two more Wembley dates for Guinness Premiership games . . 8 October 2009 . 17 July 2023 . en-UK.
  19. News: Saracens victorious at Wembley . www.planetrugby.com . . 13 February 2010 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  20. News: Saull double sinks Harlequins . www.planetrugby.com . . 17 April 2010 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  21. News: Wembley beckons for Saracens . www.express.co.uk/sport . . 10 August 2010 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  22. News: Sarries pick up Wembley win . www.skysports.com/rugby-union . . 26 December 2010 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  23. News: Saracens 19-24 Harlequins . www.bbc.co.uk/sport . . 31 March 2012 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  24. News: Largest attendance at a Guinness Premiership Rugby Union match . www.guinnessworldrecords.com . . 31 March 2012 . 25 July 2023 . en-UK.
  25. News: Saracens return to Wembley to take on Leicester Tigers . www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport . . 14 September 2012 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  26. News: Sarries share Tigers tie . www.skysports.com/rugby-union . . 15 September 2012 . 25 July 2023 . en-UK.
  27. News: Aviva Premiership: Saracens target world record attendance . www.espn.co.uk/rugby . . 20 March 2014 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  28. News: Saracens beat Quins in front of nearly 84000 at Wembley . www.eurosport.com/rugby . . 22 March 2014 . 25 July 2023 . en-UK.
  29. News: Wembley to host Saracens v Harlequins . www.planetrugby.com . . 8 July 2014 . 25 July 2023 . en-UK.
  30. News: Saracens vs Harlequins match report: Chris Ashton double sparks Sarries into life as Quins lose further ground in front of record crowd . www.independent.co.uk/sport . . 28 March 2015 . 25 July 2023 . en-UK.
  31. News: Saracens 22-12 Harlequins: Sarries see off Quins in battle at Wembley . www.ruck.co.uk . Ruck.co.uk . 16 April 2016 . 25 July 2023 . en-UK.
  32. News: Saracens to play Harlequins at Wembley on April 8 . www.skysports.com/rugby-union . . 18 August 2016 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  33. News: Saracens imperious in crushing Wembley win over Harlequins . . 8 April 2017 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  34. News: Sarries to face Quins at London Stadium between two West Ham games . www.standard.co.uk/sport . . 7 July 2017 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  35. News: Maro Itoje shrugs off Sir Clive Woodward criticism to star as Saracens beat Harlequins at the London Stadium . www.independent.co.uk/sport . . 24 March 2018 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  36. News: Saracens To Continue Harlequins Rivalry At London Stadium . www.london-stadium.com . . 7 December 2018 . 17 July 2023 . en-UK.
  37. News: Saracens beat Harlequins 27-20 at London Stadium . www.bbc.co.uk/sport . . 23 March 2019 . 20 July 2023 . en-UK.
  38. News: Date confirmed for Saracens vs Harlequins at Tottenham's new stadium . www.standard.co.uk/sport . . 10 July 2019 . 11 July 2023 . en-UK.
  39. News: Owen Farrell delivers standout performance in dominant Saracens victory against Harlequins . www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union . . 22 August 2020 . 11 July 2023 . en-UK.
  40. News: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to host Premiership game between Saracens and Bristol . www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk . Talking Rugby Union . 14 January 2022 . 11 July 2023 . en-UK.
  41. News: Premiership: Saracens 27-23 Bristol: Malins double helps Saracens hold off Bears . www.bbc.co.uk/sport . . 26 March 2022 . 11 July 2023 . en-UK.
  42. News: Saracens return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for 'The Showdown 3' . www.tottenhamhotspur.com . . 19 July 2022 . 11 July 2023 . en-UK.
  43. News: Premiership: Saracens show class to beat Harlequins in London derby and secure home semi-final . www.planetrugby.com . . 25 March 2023 . 11 July 2023 . en-UK.
  44. News: Record-breaking TV audience of 1.5 million Premiership rugby fans watch Saracens v Harlequins . www.premiershiprugby.com . . 28 March 2023 . 11 July 2023 . en-UK.
  45. News: The Showdown 4 . www.saracens.com . . 8 November 2023 . en-UK.
  46. News: Saracens 52-7 Harlequins: Theo Dan, Sean Maitland score twice as Sarries cruise to emphatic bonus-point win . www.tntsports.co.uk/rugby . . 23 March 2024 . 23 March 2024 . en-UK.
  47. News: 250 not out - every milestone on the way to Owen Farrell's landmark Saracens appearance . www.premiershiprugby.com . . 29 March 2024 . 29 March 2024 . en-UK.
  48. News: Broadcast records broken thanks to spectacular Showdown . www.premiershiprugby.com . . 27 March 2024 . 29 March 2024 . en-UK.
  49. News: Fixtures: Five things to watch out for in 2024/25 . www.premiershiprugby.com . . 24 July 2024 . 24 July 2024 . en-UK.
  50. News: Saracens to play South Africa at Wembley . www.telegraph.co.uk/sport . . 26 September 2009 . 23 November 2023 . en-UK.
  51. News: A new dawn . www.saracens.com . . 23 November 2023 . en-UK.
  52. News: Morne du Plessis says South Africans will improve Saracens . www.thetimes.co.uk . . 5 May 2009 . 23 November 2023 . en-UK.
  53. News: Rugby Union: Saracens 24-23 South Africa . news.bbc.co.uk . . 17 November 2009 . 23 November 2023 . en-UK.
  54. News: Saracens 24 South Africa 23: match report . www.telegraph.co.uk/sport . . 17 November 2009 . 23 November 2023 . en-UK.
  55. News: Super Saracens spring single-point surprise on slipshod Springboks . . 17 November 2009 . 23 November 2023 . en-UK.
  56. News: Saracens vs South Africa makes perfect sense in 2021 . www.rugbypass.com . Rugby Pass . 4 January 2021 . 23 November 2023 . en-UK.
  57. News: Saracens plan match vs Stormers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2021 . www.skysports.com/rugby-union . . 23 July 2020 . 23 November 2023 . en-UK.
  58. News: Clash of the titans: Rivalry reignites as Saracens take on Harlequins in Premier 15s . www.independent.co.uk/sport . . 11 December 2021 . 30 July 2023 . en-UK.
  59. News: RFU ends all rugby for 2019/20 season except Premiership . www.independent.co.uk . . 20 March 2020 . 30 July 2023 . en-UK.
  60. News: Join us at The Duel! . www.saracens.com . . 22 January 2020 . 27 August 2023 . en-UK.
  61. News: Law variations for new Premier 15s season . www.rugbyworld.com . . 6 October 2020 . 27 August 2023 . en-UK.
  62. News: Match Report: Saracens Women 17 Harlequins Women 17 . www.saracens.com . . 27 March 2021 . 27 August 2023 . en-UK.
  63. News: The Duel – Celebrate our illustrious history this Sunday! . www.saracens.com . . 7 December 2021 . 30 July 2023 . en-UK.
  64. News: Saracens Women 17 - 36 Harlequins Ladies . www.skysports.com/rugby-union . . 12 December 2021 . 27 August 2023 . en-UK.
  65. News: The Duel Returns . www.saracens.com . . 5 January 2023 . 27 August 2023 . en-UK.
  66. News: Saracens have final word in The Duel . www.therugbypaper.co.uk . The Rugby Paper . 19 February 2023 . 27 August 2023 . en-UK.
  67. News: Spotlight on twelve months of huge success . www.saracens.com . . 8 March 2023 . 27 August 2023 . en-UK.
  68. News: Saracens Women Launch The Duel 2024 . www.saracens.com . . 4 January 2024 . 4 January 2024 . en-UK.
  69. News: Match Report - Saracens Women 29-24 Harlequins Women . www.saracens.com . . 10 February 2024 . 10 February 2024 . en-UK.
  70. News: PWR: Saracens beat Harlequins as Loughborough defeat Leicester . www.bbc.co.uk/sport . . 10 February 2024 . 10 February 2024 . en-UK.