WRAY OF HOPE
Unsung hero Jackson is the only Sarrie without a cap.. but he won’t give up on his England dream
JACKSON WRAY will be the odd man out tonight when Saracens’ all-stars take on Ospreys.
The kings of European rugby, unbeaten in a Champions Cup-record 19 games stretching back to 2015, boast internationals in every position. Except one.
Even Nick Isiekwe, a teenager who only made his club debut in April of this year, has been capped by England.
But not Wray, the 26-year-old back row forward who has missed just THREE Premiership games for Saracens since 2013.
In that time he has featured in seven Premiership and European Cup finals, of which Saracens have won five to cement their status as the northern hemisphere’s top club.
Yet come the internationals, he is the one player left behind as England, Scotland, Wales, Argentina, South Africa and the United States empty the Sarries’ clubhouse.
“I’m desperate to play for my country,” said the Sunderland-born forward.
“I want to get into that England environment because I’ve seen the growth others have got from being in and around the set-up.”
Those “others” include Lions trio Owen Farrell, George Kruis and Jamie George, with whom Wray graduated from Sarries’ famed class of 2008.
Two years later, he was the starting No.8 for England in the semi-finals of the Junior World Cup. Since then… nothing. Not even a game for the second-string Saxons.
“Year on year I’m playing with the same mates I always have,” Wray (above, with the Champions Cup) said. “They just happen to have also gone on to great things with England and the Lions.
“I feel I am ready for that opportunity. I have been playing some decent stuff at a good level for a decent team. Sometimes I do wonder what more I have to do.”
He is not alone. Team boss Mark McCall is also at a loss to understand how Wray keeps missing out.
“This year is as well as Jackson’s played,” he said.
“He has taken on board what the England management have asked him to improve and has improved those areas big time.
“He defended magnificently last weekend and is a very important player for us.
“He will just have to keep knocking on the England door.”
Eddie Jones knows about Wray, not least because his senior coaches, Steve Borthwick and Paul Gustard, hail from Saracens.
But he says: “Sometimes you can be a great player in a great side, but not necessarily a great Test player.”
For all that, Jones will have two coaches watching Wray this evening. Just in case.