Alex Goode: 'It was very destructive for us as a group, a dagger to us all'

Whatever heights Saracens hit today, Alex Goode can not forget the lowest low.

The former England fullback is back at Twickenham where his club play Leicester in the final of the Gallagher Premiership.

Goode is already a five-time winner and bookmakers have the Londoners odds-on to make it six.

That would be some feat given they were playing in English rugby’s second division a year ago.

Almost a pinch-yourself moment for Goode who still bears the scars of that January day in 2020 when the players were told the club had cheated the salary cap and was being relegated.

“As a group it was very destructive and tough, a dagger to us as players and coaches and everyone at the training ground,” he said.

“It was horrendous to see so much mud slung at good people who probably didn’t deserve it. People had an opinion on anything and everything at that point.”

Other clubs danced on their grave, happy the three-time European champions had finally got their comeuppance for breaching salary cap regulations across three seasons.

“It was extremely tough knowing we were going to be out of the biggest competitions in the world,” Goode continued.

“I'm a competitor, I’d just been named European player of the year. I wanted to kick on. For me personally it was devastating.

“But we took our punishment and, as players, agreed that it was our time to give back to the club and to rally and work unbelievably hard.”

Pledging to bounce back and win the league was an easy soundbite, like vowing to return better than before from serious injury. It is what sporting professionals say.

This lot meant it.

“It’s not rocket science,” said Goode. “Having good people working unbelievably hard and driving towards a collective goal can be very powerful - but