Saracens play down South African links

Griffiths will have a South African coach in charge next season

Saracens have moved to allay speculation about their future direction by stating there will be no mass influx of South Africans.

The club say they will shortly announce 10 new signings, some from England, some Italian and some South African.

CEO Edward Griffiths said: "Much has been said and written about the club in the past six weeks, and most of it has been wildly inaccurate and untrue.

"Saracens will remain emphatically English in spirit and character."

The club are owned by a South African consortium, who also have stakes in provincial sides the Bulls and the Stormers back home.

South African Brendan Venter will replace Eddie Jones as coach next season and is thought to want to bring in many of his compatriots.

The possibility of moving from Vicarage Road to Craven Cottage, which is positioned in the heart of London's South African population, has been investigated.

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Saracens chairman Nigel Wray insisted last week that the Guinness Premiership side would not become a South African feeder club.

And Griffiths added: "There is no revolution unfolding at Saracens. There is an evolution from the mid-table team of recent years into one of the leading clubs in Europe.

"There has been no boardroom takeover. There will be no mass influx of South Africans.

"There will be no change in name and no change in playing kit, and the club remains committed to playing home matches at Vicarage Road."

The club also announced an ambitious plan to attract the world's largest ever crowd at a club rugby match, by playing two fixtures at Wembley Stadium next season.

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