Saracens have appointed centre Brad Barritt as captain as he replaces Alistair Hargreaves.

The 29-year-old led Sarries to Premiership and European Champions Cup titles last season while Hargreaves was sidelined through injury.

Barritt arrived at Saracens in 2008 and has clocked up 171 appearances for the Men in Black.

He told the Saracens website: “To captain Saracens is a huge honour and I am looking forward to the responsibility.

“I’d like to put it on record my thanks to Alistair, who has led Saracens superbly well over the last two seasons and will still have an important role by my side.”

Barrit has also won 26 international caps for England and won three Premiership titles and is looking forward to the challenging season ahead.

“We are back-to-back Premiership champions and now European champions, “ he said.

“We know those things don’t come easily, and we realise that next season is going to be that much harder because we are going to have a target on our backs.

“But it’s a challenge we are all relishing and we are as hungry as ever for success.”

Saracens will begin their defence of the Premiership title against Worcester on Saturday, September 3 while the north London side have been draw to face Toulon, Sale and Scarlets in the pool stage of the Champions Cup.