Alex Lozowski: Saracens exit was sad and bewildering

Sale centre Alex Lozowski says the end of his decade-long stint at Saracens was "sad" and "bewildering" after being reduced to a fringe player for his farewell campaign.

The 33-year-old England international made only two Prem appearances for Saracens last season, with a 10-minute Champions Cup cameo off the bench his only game time since the end of February.

"It was a sad ending for everyone I suppose," said Lozowski.

"They finished fifth, which is not where they wanted to be, and I wasn't part of it at all.

"It was probably just a bit of a damp squib at the end of the season really, which was a shame. It was bewildering and peculiar to me.

"They have their decisions and their reasons and, even though you can disagree with them as strongly as you like, it doesn't really count for much."

Lozowski, whose form in the 2024-25 season won him call-ups to England's squad for both the autumn internationals and Six Nations, was overlooked in favour of a midfield combination of Olly Hartley and Nick Tomkins for Saracens' run-in.

A streak of five successive victories took the London club to the brink of the play-offs before they lost away to Exeter in a semi-final shootout in the final round of the regular season.

"Sport teaches you all kinds of different lessons and now it's like a distant memory, but at the time it sort of stings," added Lozowski, who had a youth trial with Premier League side Arsenal and played for Chelsea's academy before being released and focusing on rugby.

"I've played 198 games, could have got a couple more in there and had a little run and tried to make it to the top four?' That's what I was thinking at the time, but it doesn't always work out the way you want."

Lozowski, who starts in Sale's midfield alongside fellow summer signing Joe Marchant at Saracens on Sunday, admits proving his value to his old club, along with spurring on his new side's season, will be part of his motivation.

"I know Sale wanted me to come here and add value, which meant a lot to me," he said.

Lozowski is not the only member of Sale's travelling party who will be in familiar surroundings at the Stonex Stadium.

Director of rugby Alex Sanderson spent 17 years at Saracens, initially as a player before working as a coach at the club.

Brendan Venter, who has returned to Saracens this season and already been fined for opting out of media appearances, was Sanderson's first boss as a coach.

"I idolised Brendan to a degree," he said.

"A lot of his traits, his values and philosophies I'm aligned with. I've taken from them over the years.

"Not withstanding Mark McCall's unbelievable contribution [who led Saracens for 15 years between Venter's stints], it's good to have him back in the Prem as a character. I'm sure we'll see his character come out on to the field."

Sale are seeking to avenge two heavy defeats against Saracens last season, going down 65-14 away from home in October, before an 85-16 thrashing in April's reverse fixture.