Kieran Longbottom signs for Saracens

Saracens have announced the return of front rower Kieran Longbottom ahead of the 2017/18 season.

With news that Titi Lamositele will be ruled out for a substantial period of time with a neck injury, Longbottom will join the club on a one-year deal to bolster Saracens’ front row options.

The Australian born prop originally joined Saracens in 2014 and spent two seasons with the North London club before signing for Sale Sharks in summer 2016. The 31-year-old went on to make 20 appearances for the Sharks in a season that marked his return from a serious foot injury, which had disrupted his time with Saracens.

“We know he’s a good player when he’s fit and well” said Mark McCall, “and we know he’s a good bloke and he’s very popular with the players.

“Kieran knows what he’s coming back to…it really feels like unfinished business with us, he had an opportunity and that opportunity was taken away from him by injury so he really wants to show us the real Kieran Longbottom.”

Speaking on his return to Saracens Longbottom said: “it happened very fast. I was up at Sale…and it came up that there was an opportunity at Saracens, it’s not often you get a second chance like this.

“I made a lot of friends here”, he added “and I kept a lot of those friends during my time away and it’s great to see everyone’s face again. When you go into a place when you’re already friends with 90% of the people there it’s always going to be an easy move and it’s always going to feel right.”