'This is just the start' for budding superstar Omokhuale

Alex Austerberry gave a little smile as he knew he had revealed a secret, but it was not how he got the better of Trailfinders in the PWR Final. 

Instead, while heaping praise on Julia Omokhuale, who won Player of the Match, he explained he had written her a note before the game. 

One of many Canadians on the field, the lock delivered a performance of all-round brilliance as Saracens triumphed 52-14. 

“Julia is outstanding. Before she joined Leicester, I tried to bring her into the country and into the club,” Austerberry said. 

“I just think her and her raw attributes are outstanding, her athleticism is on a different level, and I think her attacking side of the ball is catching up with her defensive side of the ball, and the impact she has had is fantastic.  

“I said to her in a little note I wrote, ‘This is only the start’. What she can achieve on a rugby field, we are only scratching the surface, and she is very exciting, we are watching a star in the making.”

It then transpired that he had written each of his players a note, taking inspiration from a coach who had done the same for him. 

Co-captain Zoe Harrison would not divulge what was written in hers as she delivered another superb kicking performance, although Austerberry admitted it contained a swear word. 

He added: “I had a coach who did that once to me. It was pretty special, so it is something I thought I would steal from them.  

“It made me feel special in that moment, so I thought if it makes one player feel special in that moment, then happy days.” 

Happy days were certainly here again for Saracens as they won their first PWR title, and first domestic title in four years, with Austerberry keen to remind everyone they had completed the double with triumph at the Stoop.

Sarries tasted defeat at the same stage last year to Gloucester Hartpury, but were convincing winners in the 2026 final. 

While Saracens have been able to keep a core group who were part of their triumph four seasons ago, Austerberry has placed the person above the player in recruiting a squad who could regain the trophy. 

“That is part of the recruitment process, what drives you,” he added. “First and foremost, I want to understand what they want from life and rugby, and you get a good sounding board. 

“They are the people you want in the room. If you get those people in the room, they are easy to coach.

"It has been incredibly fun to work with this group for such a long time, great people playing great rugby, and I think it has been fun the way we have tried to play over the last few years, and it has clicked in the final."