Alex Lozowski: Saracens & England fly-half signs deal until 2020
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Saracens back Alex Lozowski has signed a new contract keeping him at Allianz Park until the summer of 2020.
The 24-year-old former Wasps player featured twice for England on the tour of Argentina in the summer.
There had been speculation Lozowski might leave the north Londoners in search of regular game time as he is stuck behind England's Owen Farrell.
"In his brief time at the club, Alex has shown how good a player he is," director of rugby Mark McCall said.
Lozowski, who can play fly-half as well as across the backline, has scored 214 points in 26 Premiership appearances since his switch to the capital in the summer of 2016, and helped Saracens retain the Champions Cup last season.
"Alex will have an important role to play for us as he continues to develop as a player," McCall added.
"The most exciting thing for us is how much improvement we believe there is to come from him alongside our core of young, hungry, homegrown players."
Analysis
Chris Jones, BBC Radio 5 live's rugby union reporter
This is significant news given he had been open to a move away from the club to play more regularly.
England back Owen Farrell is the first-choice number 10 at Saracens, but McCall told Radio 5 live recently that Lozowski could become an England regular by staying at Sarries.
Lozowski, who can play across the back line, is in contention to be selected in Eddie Jones' autumn international squad, which is announced next week.
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Do you have any concrete evidence that Saracens are breaching the salary cap? If so, I would suggest taking it to the RFU, rather than bleating about it here.
If you hate Saracens, fine. But please keep it to yourself as it comes across as bitter jealousy.
Well done to AL, he is an excellent player and Sarries rotation means he isn't playing second fiddle at all.
he might even be leading Sarries at 12 especially with his hard hitting, he punches way about his weight, his hit on Thomas the Tank last year was epic.
I was gutted when he left - think partly came due to the move away from London and partly due to uncertainty at contract renewal time at Wasps over finances. As for bringing him back - i thought they'd make a bid to get him along with maybe Exeter, Saints and Bath. Fair play to Sarries for keeping him. Can't have been cheap!
I think you will find that the salary cap does not apply to 'homegrown' academy players so the likes of Itoje and Kruis do not form part of the capped amount. Although Lozowski does as he was at the Wasps academy.
Maybe someone can confirm one way or the other if this is correct.
whether my club is important to England however is irrelevant. Its nice that Sarries have a great contribution to the international scene atm but it's not important.
Clubs can nominate two players to be excluded from the salary cap.
Clubs also receive £600,000 in academy credits, for players who are under the age of 24, joined before their 18th birthday and are earning more than £30,000 a year.
Well I never!
I think Sarries contribution to England is important because it highlights the importance of a good youth policy, combined with smart recruitment.
Although they bring in the odd veteran, they have mostly targeted young players on their way up. Wasps and Leicester have gone for the megastar signings (how many international 10s have the tigers signed/re-signed recently?)
thanks for clearing up the salary situation. it looks to have been well thought out as it encourages promoting local academy players. as well as making sure a club can cover itself if they regularly have international call ups.