‘Golden oldie’ Strettle is aiming to become Saracens’ Federer
Despite turning 35, the cultured winger tells Mick Cleary there is plenty of life left in him
Even though he passed his 35th birthday in July there are no pipe and slippers evident in the David Strettle kitbag, just a burning desire to remind Saracens and, perhaps even England, what the former Clermont Auvergne wing still has to offer.
Saracens, of course, are familiar with Strettle’s assets from the contributions he made to the two titles they won during his five years with them. But when Strettle headed to France on the eve of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, it was assumed that it would be a Gallic swansong, all the more so given that his international career appeared to be over, with the last of his 14 caps coming in 2013.
Yet on the eve of the Gallagher Premiership season, Strettle has declared that he intends to keep on playing for as long as he can, while Saracens report that he is as “sharp and hungry” as ever, destined to play a part as the champions open the defence of their title against Newcastle at Kingston Park on Sunday. Strettle has every intention of emulating the likes of Roger Federer in tennis and being a “golden oldie”.
“I want to play for as long as I feel I can be at the level I know I can be at,” he said. “As long as I know every time I get on the pitch and my team-mates think, ‘He’s a hell of a player’, I will carry on playing. If you look at Federer and people like that, they are unbelievable and still the best in the world.
“In rugby, I couldn’t imagine a worse feeling than being a liability to your team. I feel my three years in France have given me a new lease of life. One of the reasons I went to Clermont is because I had been playing in the Premiership for 10 years and I wanted a new experience. If I had stayed, I might not be feeling like I am now.”
There is little doubt Saracens were delighted to welcome him back into the bosom of their tight-knit family. Mark Mccall, the director of rugby, simply had to be persuaded of Strettle’s desire to be as keen and competitive as he used to be. It did not take long for Strettle to convince him he meant business.
“David is a magical player,” Mccall said. “We all know his personality and we like him a lot. The question we had was as to whether he still had the hunger or was he coming for semiretirement, which was not what we wanted.
Everything we have seen so far has been encouraging.
He has been brilliant.
“David has got everything.
He is a beautiful runner. If you wanted to run in a certain way, you’d probably like to run like David Strettle. He is superb in the air, a clever defender and is someone who can pass on that knowledge to our young wings.
“He doesn’t seem his age. He doesn’t move that way or run that way. He has a loose body and has got a fair bit of rugby still in him. He is already talking of wanting another year.”
Strettle, a popular figure at Clermont, where he integrated into the French way of life, is a well-rounded character, aware that he needed a different stimulus and not afraid to cross the Channel to test himself still further.
He has always been a boon to any side, deceptively strong through the tackle, sinuous and evasive as a runner. Saracens have Wales wing Liam Williams on the mend and due an imminent return after groin issues. But Strettle boosts the resources at Saracens’ disposal as they look to reassert themselves in Europe after a disappointing campaign last season, their travails encapsulated in a shuddering 14-46 defeat at home by Strettle’s club, Clermont.
“I feel good,” said Strettle. “All my speed times and agility times are as good as they were years ago. I have always been naturally quite agile and fast. You do see some players who have manufactured power easing off a bit in the gym in the later years of their career and you end up seeing it on the pitch.
“I don’t get knocked around as much as some of the forwards and that might be why I have been able to play a few more years than others. It was a nobrainer to come back. I feel very lucky.”