KYRAN BRACKEN, Saracens' World Cup winning scrum-half, is considering extending his illustrious playing career by a further season.
Bracken, 33, had looked poised to retire in the summer but appears to undergone a change of heart after talks with head coach Steve Diamond. The persuasive Diamond sees Bracken as a key figure in his revolution and has given the seasoned number nine a two-week deadline to reach a decision.
"I've thought about it quite a lot and I'm really caught in two minds," said Bracken. "The main question is whether my body is able to do it, but I think it probably is and therefore I would really love to. There has been a lot of talk about me going to other clubs but I'd never leave Saracens. My heart is at Saracens and I want to finish my career here.
"The good thing is that Dimes wants me in the same capacity as this year which means I don't have to do all the training and be fresh and ready for the games."
In his new part-time role, Bracken has produced arguably the two best performances by a Saracens player this season against London Wasps on the opening day of the season and away at Bath on New Year's Day and he appears reinvigorated under the new regime.
"You can talk about me playing well, but I don't think I'm playing especially well now or played badly in the past," he admitted. "The fact is our pack is going forward and forward and forward so whoever is playing there is going to look alright. That hasn't happend for many, many years and that excites me and gives me in the incentive to stay on."
A major carrot for Bracken is also the opportunity to add to the one piece of silverware he has picked up in nearly a decade with the Watford-based club the Tetley's Bitter Cup in 1998.
"I've had a really hard four years at Saracens and it's not really been enjoyable losing," he added. "I got it into my head to just get through this year, hopefully have a bit of success and then finish.
"But the Diamond revolution, with the pack going forward and with the recruitment going really well I would be gutted to finish this year and then for Saracens to do something good, which at the moment looks possible.
"Diamond has regenerated the team and the club and I think he's been the best signing we have made in the last 12 months."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article