ALEX Goode has shrugged off his World Cup despair by signing a new three-year contract at Saracens which could see him finish his career with the club.
The full-back insists it was an easy decision to commit to a
club which has become the dominant force in European rugby and is determined to
remain so for years to come.
Despite being left frustrated and disappointed at being left
at home by Eddie Jones while England attempt to win a second Webb Ellis Cup in
Japan, Goode insists he never had any thoughts of copying Ben Te’o and quitting
for France.
The deal to keep him at Allianz Park until he is 34 is a
major boost for a player many feel has been unfortunate not to win more than
his 21 Test caps. Goode admits he never envisaged the London club would enjoy
such success when he first arrived there in 2008. Last season’s double success took their haul to eight major
trophies in eight years – five Premiership titles and three-times European
champions.
Mark McCall’s men are short odds to rule the roost again and
Cambridge-born Goode insists: “I’ve got three more years now and that’s
fantastic. I didn’t want to be anywhere else because I love the place and love
coming into train every day with the guys.
“I don’t need to go to France. I speak French and my mum’s a
French speaker but I’m happy to stay in north London close to my family. I
appreciate being at a club like Sarries which has given me and my family so
much during the years I’ve been here.
“What more do you need in life when you are so happy playing
for a club where your best mates are and which is always fighting for top
trophies.
“The ultimate goal here is for Saracens to be one of the most successful clubs in the history of club rugby. For me staying at Sarries another few years gives me the chance to help create more history.”
Try time: Alex Goode crosses for a try in his last appearance in an England shirt against Fiji in November 2016. Getty Images/Warren Little
Goode missed out on the plane to Japan but is still backing
England to reach the final and potentially emulating Sir Clive Woodward’s 2003
Sydney heroes. He said: “I was devastated to miss out but I will still watch
the tournament. England will do exceptionally
well. They will get to the final and could easily win it.
“For me they are one of the three teams who can do that.
“The others are New Zealand and South Africa. They could meet the All Blacks in the semi-finals, beat them and then do the same to South Africa in the final.”
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