sport

Farrell and co stick with Sarries

England internationals Owen Farrell and Mouritz Botha are among 18 players to have agreed contract extensions with Saracens.

Number eight Ernst Joubert, England Saxons scrum-half Ben Spencer, Sam Stanley and Duncan Taylor have also put pen to paper on new deals.

Saracens will be announcing the rest of the contract extensions over the next two days, although the length of the deals is being kept confidential.

Farrell broke into the Saracens first team last season and, playing fly-half, he guided the club to their first league title with victory over Leicester in the Premiership final.

The 20-year-old made an assured England debut at inside centre in the opening round of the Six Nations against Scotland.

Farrell's perfect kicking display helped England to a 19-15 victory over Italy and he is set to be named in the side to play Wales this weekend, when interim coach Stuart Lancaster confirms the line-up on Thursday morning.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said: "Owen obviously has a wonderfully exciting future in the game, at club and international level, and we are delighted he has pledged his future to Saracens."

Botha, who started both England's Six Nations game to date, joined Saracens in 2009 after stints with Bedford Athletic and the Bedford Blues.

Spencer was recruited from Cambridge and, in a rise similar to Farrell's, he was thrust into the first team following an injury crisis at scrum-half.

The 19-year-old was fast-tracked into the England Saxons squad for their A international against the Ireland Wolfhounds and he is part of the national Under-20 squad.

McCall said: "Ben has made extraordinary progress this season, from the National One league to the England Saxons, and we are delighted he has extended his contract.

"Mouritz's progress over the past few years has been fantastic and we genuinely believe the best is yet to come."

Meanwhile, the Mayor of London's office has given the green light for Saracens to push ahead with their proposed move to a redeveloped Barnet Copthall Stadium.

Saracens want to develop the site into a 10,000 capacity stadium that will host 16 games a season on an artificial pitch and provide facilities for the community to use.

The demountable stands would only be in place during the rugby season.

Barnet Council's decision to back Saracens plans was referred to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who has decided not to intervene. Saracens now await final approval from the government.

Chairman Nigel Wray said: "We are obviously delighted with the decision from the Mayor's office, which puts us a significant step closer to reviving Barnet Copthall Stadium and creating a vibrant sports hub for the local community.

"The new stadium will provide both a real home for Saracens and a hugely improved venue for athletics in the south east.

"It will secure the future of the highly successful Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers and offer great facilities free of charge to local schools.

"The benefits of our proposals have been recognised by much of the local community, including sports clubs, community groups, schools and local residents.

"It would be fitting in Olympic year to deliver a centre of inspiration, aspiration, ambition, health and community wellbeing achieved through sport and education.

"Copthall will, we promise, be a genuine community stadium and we will continue to work closely with the local community and make Copthall an asset that we can all be proud of."