DON BARRELL has become the latest product of the Saracens Academy to commit his future to the club just months after fearing his Men in Black career was over.

The bruising back rower was farmed out on loan to National One side Esher at the start of the season after a turbulent year saw the hefty workload of his university studies harm his chances of earning regular first-team rugby at Vicarage Road.

However, the former Watford Grammar School for Boys pupil thrived at the Surrey outfit and soon earned a recall by Sarries boss Alan Gaffney.

He replaced Guthrie Hall for the second half in Sarries' 46-28 EDF Energy Cup win at Leeds Carnegie last October before biding his time for his second appearance of the season in the Premiership defeat at Bristol earlier this month, where he replaced for Richard Hill.

His stock rose further with a typically attritional display after taking the injured Dave Seymour's place just minutes into the second half of Sarries' 26-20 win over Bath.

The club this week rewarded his dramatic turnaround with a three year deal and Barrell, who turned 22 on Sunday, is still pinching himself.

"I went out on loan because I wasn't playing as well as I would have hoped, mainly due to the workload and time constraints of my university studies," he said.

"When I went to Esher a part of me wondered if I would ever be able to come back to Saracens. I thought my chance had gone out of the window. But deep down I always knew I had what it takes to make it as a player and I took the opportunity to back myself.

"The move to Esher really helped me improve my game and brought the confidence flooding back. I started enjoying the game again. I played in around ten matches at a really good standard of rugby."

"It's been a fantastic season for me so far and I'm delighted to sign a new contract," he added. "Being a Watford lad I have always wanted to be a Saracens player and have never wanted to be anywhere else."

Last year Barrell graduated from University College London after attaining a 2.1 grade in Anthropology, but it was not without its setbacks. The final 12 months of a three-year degree took its toll and Barrell found it difficult to juggle both his studies and climbing the professional ladder at Sarries.

"I use to get up in the morning and train with the lads, then at 1pm I would go into university and catch up on what I had missed out on," he recalled.

"Then I had lectures before going to the library to study. It was quite a tiring cycle and that is why my rugby suffered last year - I became mentally tired.

"I knew I had a timescale to meet at Saracens and if I didn't prove myself in that time, then that would be it. I sat down with Alan Gaffney and forwards coach Adrian Kennedy at the start of the season and told them I knew I was nowhere near the level they expected me to be at last year. They offered me a clean slate and refused to judge me on that previous season.

"I made sure I created an opportunity for myself and luckily it went right, and things have fitted into place ever since."

Barrell, who made his competitive debut as a schoolboy against Northampton in 2004, also impressed director of rugby Gaffney and the coaching staff with his enterprising approach in forcing his way back into their thoughts.

He explained: "After every game I played with Esher I made a couple of videos of my highlights and told the coaches, Here, look at these, I'm trying hard'. It seemed to do the trick."

Now in his eighth season with the Men in Black, the number eight has looked comfortable at openside flanker in his last two appearances and is happy to play anywhere in the back row for his boyhood club.

"With Eddie Jones coming in next year Saracens is the right place for me to be," insisted Barrell. "Eddie wants a core of English players coming through who are dedicated to the club. I think he sees me more as a flanker and I am happy to play there. Eddie can only move the club forward."

Barrell has represented England at Under 16, 17 and 19 level and would love to achieve the wealth of international success his team-mate Richard Hill enjoyed.

"It was awesome replacing Hilly at Bristol but also a bit surreal as he is someone I have always looked up to. It's impossible to fill his shoes but I don't mind creating a new pair!

"He has set the bar and it's a case of trying to take things on from there. I've nothing but admiration and respect for Hilly - he has been nothing but a positive influence on me."

Barrell's no nonsense senior cameos to date are set to earn him a place in Gaffney's extended 41-man Heineken Cup squad for the knock-out stages after he missed out on the initial 38 selected at the start of the season.

The likes of fellow Academy products Tom Mercey and Adam Powell, who penned new deals last year were included while Barrell was left kicking his heels in frustration.

"I was not registered in the Heineken Cup squad at the start of the season, which reflected where I was in the coaches' minds," added Barrell. "They didn't rate me as a player then so it's a big boost to be involved now.

"The system we've got at Saracens is fantastic. The players that have come through the ranks have put their hands up and earned their opportunity. Tom Mercey and Adam Powell are making the most of their chances and I aim to do the same.

"I've got to keep my head down and keep performing and any rewards that brings I will be happy to take. The aim is to get my first senior start before trying to keep hold of the shirt."

Gaffney had nothing but praise for the strapping 15 stone talent after getting his Sarries career back on track.

"Don has still got a way to go but there is no doubt he has got a bright future," said the Aussie. "He didn't play very well at all last year as his degree took up most of his time. However, he has done well for us this season and is an aggressive, impact player who brings a lot to the table.

"There is still plenty of things for him to improve on but I've no doubt he will end up playing regular first-team rugby."