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Sarries winning matches? Premiership giants bring in Jim McGuinness for Champions Cup talk

Former Donegal boss “captivated the group” during hour-long address.

JIM MCGUINNESS IS helping Saracens to challenge for Champions Cup glory.

The Gaelic football mastermind, who led Donegal to the All-Ireland football title in 2012, took an hour-long session ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight clash against Clermont Auvergne.

A win would see Sarries face either Toulon or Leinster in the final, and they are leaving no stone unturned as they bid to win European club rugby’s biggest competition for the first time.

American sprinter Michael Johnson and three-time F1 champion Jackie Stewart are among those who have previously given motivational talks to the Premiership giants.

This time coach Mark McCall invited McGuinness, a qualified sports psychologist, to speak to his team.

“When he took over at Donegal in 2010, they hadn’t won a game for three seasons and hadn’t won a championship for 19 seasons,” McCall said, as reported by the Press Association.

“He took them on a journey over four years and it seemed like a very similar journey to our own.

He captivated the group for an hour. He is an extremely passionate speaker and he was fantastic for the players, who really enjoyed it.

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Author
Niall Kelly
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