Josh Hallett: Saracens to Oxford

Hallett representing OURFC last week against Eastern Suburbs

For seasoned Premiership campaigner Josh Hallett, this Friday's match up of the Blues v Sarries carries particular relevance. You can get your tickets in advance here on what is sure to be a packed out Iffley Road.

The former Saracen, graduated from the Academy making his Premiership debut in the 2019/20 season. That year he went on to win the Premiership 7s title. Then after relegation to the Championship in the Covid impacted season, he helped the squad secure promotion back to the Premiership. Back at the pinnacle of English Rugby', Hallett went on to win the Premiership with his boyhood club in the 2022/23 season where he featured in over half of the games that season.

Hallett, playing against Bath in the Premiership

Having spent a decade at Saracens in total and 6 years in the first team squad, Hallett has played with some of the best players in the world. When discussing the match this Friday, "Having had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the biggest names in Rugby both in terms of players and staff, I owe an enormous amount to the Saracens organisation. The Saracens environment is renowned within rugby circles for being innovative and putting player development at the fore. This has instilled in me a strong desire for self improvement and I see Oxford as the next step for me to grow as an individual."

Hallett (St Anne's) has taken the decision to step away from full time professional rugby to study Precision Cancer Medicine. This next chapter he views as a chance to immerse himself in the academic world at the best University in the world and test himself in a different environment.

Combining his studies with playing for OURFC is an opportunity that was too good to pass up, "OURFC is club steeped in history and prestige, the thought of earning my Blue is one that fills me with immense excitement. Having learnt from the best Rugby minds in the world, I have really enjoyed assuming a leadership role at the club and mentoring the exciting young players at Oxford."

Hallett is excited for this Friday, representing the Blues against a club that will always mean an enormous amount to him. "Playing under lights on a Friday against my former team mates and one of the biggest and best professional clubs in the world is an opportunity I relish being involved in. I am looking forward to seeing my friends and welcoming them down to the historic Iffley Road in front of a large crowd."

Read the match preview here from the 2009 match up between the Blues and Sarries, featuring Jamie George, Owen Farrell, George Kruis, Jackson Wray and Alex Goode.