Saracens have given their fans something to really cheer about ahead of their crucial Amlin Challenge Cup tie with Toulon on Thursday.
The former Heineken Cup semi-finalists have resigned 11 players in a week in which they hope to join Toulon at the top of Pool 3.
Backline stars Noah Cato, Adam Powell, Neil de Kock, Kameli Ratuvou, Rodd Penney, Chris Wyles and James Short have all penned new deals at Vicarage Road, while forwards Hayden Smith, Mouritz Botha, Justin Melck and Rhys Gill have also committed their future to the club.
Saracens endured an uncertain end to last season after a coaching reshuffle and a major overhaul of playing staff but the latest news suggests that the future looks bright for Brendan Venter and his squad.
Cato and Powell are the type of young, English-based players that many critics had feared Saracens would lose at the end of the last campaign but both were delighted to extend their contracts.
"It was an easy decision for me and I'm really excited about what is happening at Saracens," said Cato.
"We're moving forward every day and not only it is great to be part of that, but to be able to share that with a fantastic group of players who are also my friends is something special."
"I've grown up at Saracens and this is my club so I'm delighted to have signed a new deal," added Powell.
"We're really set up for an exciting second half of the season."
The news of the 11 signings comes at the perfect time for Sarries after back-to-back league defeats saw them lose top spot in the Guinness Premiership for the first time this season.
Venter's men go into tomorrow's European tie knowing that securing a bonus-point victory and ensuring Toulon go home empty handed would see them join the big-spending French outfit on 18 points with just one pool game left to play.
Defeat, however, would bring their European season to an early end and would leave them unable to improve upon last year's semi-final defeat to Northampton.
