Jackson Wray: uncapped, unheralded but never under-appreciated by Saracens
The Odd Man Out takes centre stage today when Jackson Wray captains Saracens on his 300th appearance.
For 15 years the back row star has stockpiled major trophies playing for one of Europe’s most successful clubs.
He has won four Premierships and three Champion Cups, keeping his place among a stable of superstars despite never once being capped by England.
“I can remember once looking back through programmes of finals I started in,” said Wray.
“Going down the team sheet in each and looking at the badges beside every single name apart from mine. I was the exception.”
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He has played alongside Steve Borthwick and Owen Farrell, head coach and captain of England.
Wray (far right) celebrates one of his three Champions Cup wins with Saracens team mates (PA)Shared a changing room with Richard Wigglesworth and Alex Sanderson, bosses of Leicester and Sale respectively.
Lined up with Red Rose stars Maro Itoje, Jamie George, Elliot Daly, Ben Earl, Alex Goode, the Vunipola brothers.. the list goes on and on.
Yet somehow when it has come to international representation he has every time slipped through the cracks. It remains one of the mysteries of the past decade.
Wray: “There were periods where I was frustrated and disappointed but sometimes your face doesn’t fit what’s needed" (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)“There were periods where I was frustrated and disappointed as obviously I wanted it,” Wray said. “But sometimes your face doesn’t fit what’s needed.
“I don’t dwell on it. It doesn’t mean to say you’re not an international standard player. Those European and Premiership finals were my internationals. For me that was the pinnacle.
“I don’t look back on anything really in terms of disappointment. If I had played for England I may not have reached this pretty crazy milestone.”
Wray and George Kruis with Premiership trophy (PA)Come hell or high water Wray, now 32, has been there for the Londoners. On weekends like this, when the international window drains the club of its headliners, he remains to man the barricades.
“To reach 300 appearances for this great club means the world,” he said, ahead of this afternoon’s Premiership clash with Bristol.
“It wasn’t a number I ever thought I’d get to. At the start I didn’t think I’d even make it at the club. Over the years there have been some brilliant players in my position.”
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Alex Goode, another Saracens player under appreciated by England (Getty Images)Wray, who is out of contract at the end of the season and unsure as to what the future holds, deserves all the attention coming his way today.
The side he leads out at the StoneX includes Goode and Alex Lozowski - two others not to have had their just desserts from Test match rugby.
“Alex [Goode] was European player of the year and not getting picked by England, so these things happen,” said Wray. “But we’ve got both memories at this club that we wouldn’t swap for the world.
“For me that’s more than enough.”
* Elliot Daly has been ruled out of England's entire Six Nations campaign by a hamstring injury suffered playing for Saracens. He will be sidelined for three months.
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