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Saracens will come to win, says ex-England ace Chuter

Leicester Tigers hooker George Chuter will play for Bermuda International Select XV against Saracens at the National Sports Centre later this month.

Former England rugby ace George Chuter will be among the star attractions when Bermuda International Select XV face Saracens at the National Sports Centre later this month.Coached by ex-England World Cup winner Lewis Moody, the Select XV will also feature Chuter’s recently-retired Leicester Tigers teammate Geordan Murphy of Ireland and several Bermuda national team players.Also representing the Select XV are former Scotland number eight Simon Taylor alongside a host of USA and Canadian internationals who have been brought in to bolster the line-up.Although Premiership powerhouse Saracens will be missing their British and Irish Lions contingent who are touring Australia this summer, they are still expected to travel to the Island with a formidable squad of internationals.And ex-Saracens man Chuter, who won 24 caps for England, is braced for competitive match against his former club.“I was talking to Geordan Murphy yesterday about the trip and I think it will be a competitive game,” said the 36-year-old. “There will be a lot of current American and Canadian Test players playing alongside some not-so-recent international players as well.“I think it will be a pretty competitive game and I’m sure Saracens won’t want to lose a pre-season friendly.”Chuter spent four seasons at Saracens between 1996 and 2000 but admits most of his former teammates are now either retired or working for the club in a management capacity.“I left Saracens a long time ago now; there a few guys in the management who I used to play with but the rest of them have gone the way of the dodo,” said Chuter, who admits he, too, is in the twilight of his career.“I’m still enjoying the training and playing (for Tigers) when I can but obviously at this stage of my career it’s starting to tail off a little bit.“We’re getting ready for the Aviva Premiership semi-finals this week but I’ve not played so much this year. I’m getting on a touch and we have the current England and Lions hooker (Tom Youngs) in the team.”Saracens’ tour will also include community work through school visits, coaching workshops and fundraising activities, culminating with the international match on May 31, while a star-studded Sevens tournament could be on the cards for June 1.Money raised from the tour will go to the Beyond Rugby charity and Bermuda Rugby Football Union. For Chuter it will his first visit to the Island.“I was talking to Lewis (Moody) when we were playing in (former England international) Louis Deacon’s testimonial a few weeks ago and he asked if I’d like to go (to Bermuda),” he said.“To tell you the truth, I’ve never been to Bermuda before and I’m looking forward to getting out there: firstly, to see Bermuda and secondly to get involved in the charity event.“We’ve all heard of the Bermuda Rugby Classic and anything that can help spread the word of rugby around the world can only be a good thing.“When you factor charity into that, then it should be a really good week all around.”For more details visit www.facebook.com/SaracensFundraisingWeekInBermuda.