Fan's View: 2013 will be a special year for Sarries (From Enfield Independent)

Saracens fan Louise Warr believes 2013 will be a special year on and off the pitch for the Men in Black

2:17pm Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in Sport By Louise Warr, Saracens fan

2013 has finally come around and there won't be many more excited than Saracens to welcome in the New Year. Placed second in the Premiership and topping the pools in both the Heineken and LV= cups, the Men in Black are in a very good position.

This year however, will be about much more than the rugby played on the pitch. In the eyes of everybody involved with Saracens, February 16 2013 is a date that can't come soon enough and one that will love long in the memory afterwards.

Although a test game will take place a few weeks before, it is the day that the Premiership's nomads will finally have a place to call their own, Allianz Park.

Vicarage Road may have its faults; they have been voiced on many an occasion, but it has been good temporary home to Saracens. Without it they wouldn't be half the club they are today.

Despite this they are a team with ambitions of seismic proportions and a place to call home really is essential in order to continue to move forward.

Regardless of all its gadgets and gimmicks, one thing Allianz Park won't do is increase Sarries’ popularity with the other Premiership clubs.

Firstly, the stadium is situated on Champions Way, a good omen we hope but a name you can imagining ruffling the feathers of visiting fans and players alike.

Secondly, it will be cutting edge, with talk of Wi-Fi, action replays and the ability to order pizza directly to your seat.

Impressive and innovative, but hardly comforts you find at the homes of some of the well-established "proper clubs" held in high esteem by many.

Will this worry Saracens? I highly doubt it.

This will be the home they have craved for so long, they will make it just the way they want it.

It would be wrong to talk about the prospect of 2013 without mentioning one of the biggest rugby events of the year, the Lions tour to Australia.

An event that captures the imagination of home nation’s rugby fans regardless of the club or country they support.

There is so much rugby to be played between now and June, but so far Saracens potential Lions stars are firmly putting their hands up.

The England contingent have shown they were more than capable to mix it with the best in the defeat of World Champions New Zealand, highlighted by the fact that 27 of the 38 points scored by England on that memorable day came from those who ply their trade for the Men in Black.

However, it is not just on the international stage players are showing they have what it takes.

Last weekend, in the 22-0 demolition of Bath, there was a Saracens player who was head and shoulders above the rest, Charlie Hodgson.

He was in some sublime form that day and has seemingly fixed his well-documented defensive failures.

Yes, he seemingly left his kicking boots on the coach in the game against Northampton on Sunday, but that shouldn’t distract from his successes in other areas.

It would be a highly contentious move to give Hodgson a place on the plane but one that should be at least given consideration.

In the increasingly competitive league that is the Aviva Premiership, nobody knows what 2013 will bring for any club or their players.

However, the signs are looking positive that it could be a memorable and rather “special” year for all of those with Saracens close to their heart.