Chris Wyles may have been Captain America during the World Cup, but for much of his career he has played the part of a superhero’s alter ego, the ordinary Joe hiding in plain sight.
Man of the match awards are seldom received, the sponsors’ champagne generally gravitates towards more eye-catching talents, of which Saracens possess many. Yet Wyles’ low profile belies his importance to the team. Whether it is at full-back, outside centre or on the wing, where he has found a position of some permanence this season, the 32-year-old has been a mainstay of Saracens side over the past eight years, playing in every one of the club’s major finals in that period.
His most startling quality is his consistency. Week after week, he is virtually blemish-free. Even in a miserable World Cup for the United States, Wyles was outstanding having been given the captaincy at short notice. It may be an oxymoron in itself, but if there was an award for the Premiership’s most underrated player, Wyles would be a shoe-in.
To understand what drives those performances, you must first appreciate Wyles’ background. He was very nearly lost to the game after playing a handful of games for Northampton when they were relegated in the 2006-07 season. It was an unhappy experience.
“A lot of my friends had gone into the City or started their own business and there was a point where I thought is this really for me?” Wyles said.
Wyles scores against Oyonnax
Fortunately, he was persuaded to try out for the American sevens side and in next to no time was representing the country of his birth at the 2007 World Cup. It was there he came to the attention of a certain Eddie Jones, then assisting South Africa, who brought him to Saracens. “It has been a weird journey but kind of a cool one too.”
As one of their longest serving players, Wyles has seen the club shed its tag of underachievers to become the current dominant force in English rugby – not that has brought many popularity awards along the way. “It is one of those things when you are successful and winning a lot, you are not necessarily going to be liked everyone,” Wyles said.
“I wouldn’t compare us to Man U just yet, but that era when everyone hated them and then Chelsea. To a certain extent when Leicester were phenomenally successful reaching nine finals in a row they had that aura about them as a team. We would like to get that place where we are consistently there every season.”
There is a reason why Saracens are not everyone’s cup of tea. Their style is designed to win games rather than hearts. The allegations surrounding the salary cap abuse have left a sour taste with many.
And yet there is much to admire too. The club never miss any opportunity to publicise their core values. From the outside looking in, they can appear trite, yet they have real meaning to the players and staff.
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Four years ago, Wyles lost his mother, Jessica, to pancreatic cancer. In those dark times, the club not only supported Wyles but went about raising £100,000 for the Hospice of St Francis that cared for her. The whole squad and staff undertook a firewalk across 800 degree coals while Paul Gustard, the England bound defence coach, ran four marathons back to back, the latter two with a stress fracture in his shin.
“You read about the things from the outside and even as a player when you first arrive, it can sound like a bunch of cliches and meaningless soundbites,” Wyles said. “That whole situation with my mum was where it was not just about the words, it was about the actions.
“The way the club treated me from the coaching staff, Ed Griffiths and Nigel Wray was incredible. That period there made me realise how special this club is to me. Everyone has their own individual stories at this club and everyone needs help at some point but it is not just talk here, it is action. They won’t understand it from the outside but from the inside they do.
“What they did for my mum shows it is not just words, it is action and how well they treat people at the club. I think it is unique. It is easy to say all those catchy words but the unique thing here is that it is acted upon.You feel privileged. When they treat you like that it makes you want to play your guts out for the team and for the club.”
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