JACKSON Wray has expressed his joy after helping Saracens win the Champions Cup for the second season in succession.

Wray played a key part in Saracens’ 28-17 win against Clermont at Murrayfield on Sunday.

And the 26-year-old back row told Echosport he was delighted to have triumphed.

“This competition is the pinnacle of club rugby and to have backed up what we did last year to win it again is a fantastic achievement,” said Wray.

“To have gone 18 games unbeaten in the competition is a special thing and I’m not sure anyone has done that before.

“We’re all delighted and we’ve enjoyed a great couple of days celebrating the success.”

However, Wray admitted his own part in the glory may not have been possible if it had not been for his spell at Thundersley's King John School.

“Before I started at King John School I hadn’t played rugby and it was them who really got me into it,” said Wray.

“I was more into football, I played for a Sunday League side in Basildon and quite enjoyed playing but when I got to King John they encouraged me to try rugby.

“I wouldn’t say it was as full on as them saying ‘you can’t play football for us unless you play rugby’ but it was pretty close to being that way!

“But it was definitely down to them that I got into rugby and they made sure I really enjoyed it as well which was important.

“A lot has happened since then and it seems so long ago now but I could definitely have taken a completely different path if it had not been for my school.

“I still go back whenever I can because there are a lot of great people there and it was really nice to read the comments they made about me in the Echo earlier this week.”

However, plenty of praise has been coming Wray’s way in the past few seasons after establishing himself a key component in a successful Saracens side.

Sarries won the Champions Cup for a second season in succession after beating Clermont Auvergne 28-17 on Sunday.

And Wray remains delighted by the success.

“We’re all really chuffed to have won,” said Wray, who grew up in Benfleet.

“It’s different to when we won last year but to have been able to back it up like we have done is a great achievement and so was beating Clermont in the final.

“I think we have been the top two teams in the competition this year and they’re very strong so to beat them was great.

“The journey home after the game was also very enjoyable and we’ve had a good couple of days celebrating the win which I think is as important as getting the win.”

However, Wray and his Saracens team-mates have now set their sights back on the Premiership.

Sarries travel to Exeter Chiefs in the semi-finals of the competition this weekend.

And Wray is expecting a very tough test in Devon, with kick-off at Sandy Park at 2.30pm.

“Exeter are a good side and they’re strong at home so we know we’re in for a difficult game against them on Saturday,” said Wray.

“But if we can match the performance we put in against Clermont then we can definitely win.”

Wasps face Leicester in the other semi-final with the two winners meeting at Twickenham a week on Saturday.