Impala Saracens duo Ian Minjire and Samuel Oliech will be part of Saracens’ Premiership 7s squad that take on Northampton Saints, Harlequins and Wasps on Friday evening at Franklin’s Gardens.
The Kenyan duo, who have both represented their country at 7s level, have been training with Saracens for over four weeks alongside four other players from around the globe, have spoken of their pride at being chosen to represent Saracens.
“It’s a good feeling to be playing on Friday,” said Minjire, a 21-year-old winger.
“We’ve been here for four weeks now so it’s our chance to show what we’ve picked up in that time, and now it’s time to go out on the pitch and show it. It will be great to say that ‘we’ are Saracens on Friday”.
He added; “I suppose this a tournament that me and Sammy would only watch on TV, so we want to get out there and play our hearts out and maybe one day look back and watch it and be proud with how we played”.
20-year-old Oliech, a centre or winger added; “To play on Friday night is awesome. It will be great to play alongside some of the other academy players in a big tournament. We are actually going to represent Saracens on the bigger stage, and that’s going to be something that both of us are going to be very proud of”.
Both Minjire and Oliech have been training with the club for four weeks as part of the Global Network player pathway scheme, and the Impala Saracens pair have spoken about their experiences of training and living in the UK.
“It’s been pretty good so far,” said Oliech. “Everyone’s been very friendly, from the coaches to the players, whether it’s at training or away from the club, like if we get lost! It’s been a really good experience”.
Minjire echoed his teammates sentiments by adding; “It’s been amazing. It’s like meeting the bigger family at Saracens, and we’re like the younger kids from Kenya so we get to meet our parents so to speak, so it’s been a good experience. It’s just like we expected. It’s a big club, with big players who are the kind of people we want to become”.
Adopted from www.saracens.com
