Lozowski sends out warning message

Alex Lozowski says Saracens are “still the champions” and has warned their European rivals they won’t give up the title without a fight. Saracens were recently hit with a 35-point penalty for breaching the Premiership salary cap, a decision they will be appealing, but the club have chosen to prioritise top-flight survival over a fourth Champions Cup crown in five years. The Londoners begin their European defence at Racing 92 on Sunday and with domestic survival the main aim, seven of the eight players who lined up for England in the World Cup final in Japan a fortnight ago have been left out. Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Billy and Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, George Kruis and new signing Elliot Daly all miss the trip to Paris and the defending champions are expected to fight life difficult. However, Lozowski, 26, says his side will not give up and will be doing everything they can to retain their Champions Cup crown. “When you play for this rugby club, when you pull on a Saracens shirt, you are expected to win,” he was quoted as saying by The Mirror. “That’s the standard we set ourselves. “So while this weekend’s team is very different to the one which started the final in May, we are still the champions. We are not just going to roll over and let whoever else come along and dominate us.”