New boys happy as Sarries (From Enfield Independent)

Saracens new boys Alistair Hargreaves and Chris Ashton reflect on a positive start at their new club

9:00am Thursday 18th October 2012 in Sport By Tom Allnutt

Saracens new-boys Alistair Hargreaves and Chris Ashton are both delighted with their time at the club so far and hailed each other's contribution to the team.

South African international Hargreaves joined the Men in Black in the summer from Super 15 region the Sharks for whom he appeared more than 50 times.

England winger Ashton meanwhile signed from Northampton Saints, also in the summer, having previously made the switch from rugby league where he played for Wigan Warriors.

The pair have settled in well and are enjoying the club's personal approach to the players.

"I’ve found the attention to detail is fantastic here," Hargreaves said.

"In South Africa there are perhaps more players coming through so they don’t have to focus as much on any one individual.

"But the time they give back to the players at Saracens is phenomenal."

Ashton agreed with Hargreaves that the club's philosophy off the pitch is what has surprised him most.

He said: "As well as everything on the pitch, for me all the stuff off the field is completely different too.

"At my old club it was all 100 per cent rugby all the time but here it's not like that.

"They say here that if you're happy off the field and your comfortable in your environment outside rugby then they believe your rugby will improve as well."

Ashton has endured a mixed start to his Sarries career, having been sin-binned twice in six games and scored four tries.

Hargreaves though was full of praise for the winger.

"He’s a character and that comes through in the way he plays the game," the 26-year-old said.

"He fits into the Saracens way of doing things - he likes to have a laugh with people and he’s a very passionate guy and that is how he plays his rugby."

And Ashton was happy to return the compliment to his South African team-mate.

He said: "The way they bring up players in South Africa is to be hard and physical and Al is a great example of that.

"There's no doubt he is a great addition to the squad."

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