Moment in Time: Saracens and the 1998 Tetley Bitter Cup final

Emotion is an oft-used word in rugby, but this is a day that sticks in the minds of Saracens people on many counts. For starters, it was their first piece of major silverware. Secondly, it produced the first significant return on the investment of Nigel Wray, the multi-millionaire businessman who continues to back the club. And thirdly, it was an occasion that marked the end of dazzling careers for two legends of the game, Michael Lynagh, of Australia, and France’s Philippe Sella.
Lynagh and Sella joined Saracens after rugby turned pro and the 1998 Tetley’s Bitter Cup final represented the culmination of an exciting two years for Sarries, who, along with sides such as Bath, Leicester, Harlequins and Newcastle, had blazed the trail by attracting top-class international players to these shores. At the back end of their careers they may have been, but men like Lynagh and Sella electrified the top-flight and helped attract huge crowds to matches.
The Allied Dunbar Premiership had already been decided by the time Sarries met Wasps at Twickenham, with Rob Andrew’s Newcastle taking the honours. The cup final therefore took on huge significance, with Saracens knowing their campaign would be judged on whether they could face down a side that had been champions of England the previous year. For Sella, holder of a then-record 111 French caps, it would be one of the biggest moments of his career.
“It was the first final for Saracens and my final game as a player,” he recalls. “It was Michael’s last game, too, and it was a very difficult game to prepare for because when you know it is your last game, you know you need to play your best because it’s a memory for the rest of your life. But I enjoyed a very good week and it was a very special time with all those team-mates.
“One memory stands out, though, and that was just before the final, when we arrived at Twickenham on the bus. A group of French fans had made the journey to London to see me and they were playing French music outside the ground. I didn’t cry, but it was very emotional to see those fans and I took a moment in the changing room to get my mind back on the game.
“I’d played at Twickenham many times during my career, but this was more special and my emotions were bigger so it made me want to finish on a good note in front of 70,000 people. It was a warm day, with a fantastic atmosphere inside the stadium, so we just had to play well.”
Sella need not have worried and Saracens got off to the best possible start by scoring early, with the French centre providing a trademark finish to swivel across the Wasps line at the end of a powerful run. The floodgates soon opened and Wasps were never at the races as Sarries racked up six further tries from Kyran Bracken, Danny Grewcock, Steve Ravenscroft, Ryan Constable, Gavin Johnson and Richard Wallace to record the second highest victory in senior cup final history.
“To score a try is always good for any rugby player, but to score so early was great for the team. It gave us good momentum and relieved some of the pressure. We had never won anything before, whereas Wasps had been champions the year before, so we were desperate to win this match and maybe our motivation was stronger. Wasps had a very good team, with players like Lawrence Dallaglio and Alex King in their side, so it was fantastic to play well that day.
“We couldn’t have believed we would win 48-18. It was just amazing. The first feeling was satisfaction at having played a good game, then we lifted the cup and it was fantastic. It was my last night in rugby and there was so much emotion. Again I didn’t cry, but I was very happy and I spent a long time on the pitch afterwards rather than heading for the changing room.”
Who would have believed Sarries would wait 13 years for their next piece of silverware? “I was so happy when they won the Championship last year, particularly for Nigel Wray who’s a really good guy,” Sella adds. “I keep in touch and hope they enjoy even more success.”
WHERE ARE THEY NOW: THE CLASS OF 1998
1. Roberto Grau: Joined Dax in 2000 before returning to Argentina to play for Liceo. Retired in 2003 and now coaches UR Cuyo as well as owning a food production company.
2. George Chuter: ‘Gorgeous’ George took a year out to travel the world in 2000, but returned to join Leicester and is now the Premiership’s record appearance maker.
3. Paul Wallace: Joined Leinster in 2001 but had to retire through injury in 2003. Is now a director of Irish firm Bircroft Property Finance and a pundit for Sky Sports rugby.
4. Paddy Johns: Returned to Ireland to play for Ulster in 2000 before winding up at his beloved Dungannon, where he was recently appointed as head coach.
5. Danny Grewcock: Joined Bath in 2001 where he played for 10 years before retiring. Immediately joined Bath’s coaching team and now helps to run the club’s academy.
6. Ben Sturnham: Joined Bath that summer, then in 2000 moved to Bristol where his career was ended by a knee injury in 2003. Coached at Bristol and Newbury, but quit rugby in 2010 to concentrate on a career as an executive search consultant with Carmichael Fisher.
7. Francois Pienaar: Retired in 2000 to become CEO and head coach at Saracens, but returned home to South Africa in 2002. Still sits on the board at Sarries and is actively involved in charity work.
8. Tony Diprose: Joined Harlequins in 2001 and retired in 2006. Joined the coaching staff there and is now academy manager.
9. Kyran Bracken: Won the World Cup with England in 2003 before retiring in 2006. Starred in Dancing On Ice in 2007 and now runs his own ice skating business.
10. Michael Lynagh: Retired that summer and is now a director of Adstream as well as working as an analyst on Sky Sports rugby.
11. Brendon Daniel: Became a journeyman, playing for Harlequins, Coventry, Bristol, Bath, Pau, Borders and Blaydon before joining Denver RFC in 2011. Now back in New Zealand.
12: Steve Ravenscroft: Joined London Welsh in 2000 before retiring in 2005. Now a solicitor, but still enjoys the odd game of social rugby with Saracens Amateurs.
13: Philippe Sella: Retired that summer and headed home to France, where he became a PE teacher before entering the world of marketing. Now Director of Rugby at Agen.
14: Ryan Constable: Joined Ulster in 2000 and retired in 2004. Now runs Cornerflag Management Ltd in Northern Ireland.
15: Gavin Johnson: Retired home to Southern Africa that summer and now runs Mutemwa Lodge, situated on the Upper Zambezi River in western Zambia.
Replacements
Richard Wallace (for Daniel, 28): Left Saracens in 1999 to train as a pilot. Now works for CityJet.
Gregg Botterman (for Chuter, 76): Joined Old Albanians in 1999, for whom he is still registered.Jointly owns Rankins Glass Ltd and iGlass.
Matthew Singer (for Sella, 79): Joined Neath in 1999 but career ended in 2001 through injury and he began teaching maths at Wycliffe College, Stonehouse, before emigrating to Singapore.
Marcus Olsen (for Bracken, 79): Soon left Saracens and joined Dauntsey’s School in Devizes, Wiltshire, where he is now head of rugby and boys’ athletics.
Adrian Olver (for Grau, 79): Joined Harlequins in 2000, then played for Worcester, Gloucester, Coventry, Birmingham and Stourbridge. Now director of On-wood Products in Chelmsford.