Saracens winger Chris Ashton says the Rugby Seven Series was the perfect way to prepare for the new season and hopes the atmosphere at Allianz Park will continue throughout the season.

Sarries are through to the final round of the Series, to be played at Bath on Friday, after securing victories over London Irish (24-12) and Wasps (21-17).

It wasn't a clean sweep for the Men in Black, who lost their final game 24-21 against Harlequins, but despite not topping their group Sarries progress from Pool C and Ashton was delighted with the night's work.

“It was a great night,” he told the club's official website. “It was good to get a good run around and get some contact in.

“There was an awful lot more action than what I thought there was going to be, but it was good as I haven’t played sevens for about five years – I really enjoyed it.

“There has not been many opportunities for me to play Sevens - I thought this was the perfect time to go and do it – with being off so long you need to get used to the hits again and it was great to do that with the season start fast approaching”.

The Pool's matches were played at Allianz Park - the first time the new stadium had hosted the tournament - and Ashton hopes the atmosphere can be recreated during the season.

“It was good to play at Allianz Park under the floodlights. There was a fantastic atmosphere and I didn’t really expect to see such a huge crowd," he said. 

"It was great to see so many people turning up in the season’s first event and I hope that we can build on crowds that were generated last season, as it is a place where I really enjoy playing."