Former Life University men's player and Traverse City Alliance HS player Phil Thiel has signed with English pro club Saracens.

The hooker, who has been capped 22 times for the USA, arrived at the club on Sunday and will be there on a short-term contract while Schalk Brits is away with the South African national team.

The move comes at a crucial time for Thiel, whose form was not at its highest this past summer. Thiel is a tough, intelligent hooker with World Cup experience, but balancing a career and working in club rugby is not always easy when you play international rugby, and a full-time training environment may be exactly what he, and the USA National Team, need.

Thiel is the fifth USA player to be on the Saracens roster. Chris Wyles is a bona-fide star for the club, while Hayden Smith is a regular player. Titi Lamositele and Thretton Palamo are younger projects, but with enormous potential. At 29, Thiel's job is to bring experience and set-piece understanding to the team.

“I’m really looking forward to training with the Premiership league winners," said Thield. "Following the squad’s recent visits to New York and Chicago, and the number of US players on the roster, an ever increasing number of Americans can see there is something special happening at Saracens, and I am delighted to be part of it.”

Thiel has played 22 times for the Eagles, 16 of those starts at hooker. He has subbed on three times as a hooker and three times as a prop - his ability to also play prop is a huge point in his favor as a player. He has scored one try in his career, a crucial touchdown against Uruguay in the World Cup Qualifier March 22. He is originally from Michigan, and was a No. 8 for Traverse City before going overseas to play in low club levels in the UK. He then joined Life and earned a graduate degree there.