So it has been a month since the The Beeb reported that ‘Saracens have told 15 of their playing staff they will not be required next season as they will be replaced largely by South African players.^[1]’  And, after a verbose display at the Fans Forum the week before, Edward G and Camp Saracens have been relatively quiet on the facts behind this story.  So I thought I would take a chronological look at the events of the past month and crystallize some of the questions that still remain. 

Mon 23rd Feb: After the announced early departure of Eddie Jones, Brendan Venter came to visit the squad and let a large proportion of the first team squad know they will be surplus to requirement for the 09-10 season. It was reported these included; ‘Former All Black Chris Jack, the highest-profile casualty, along with Cencus Johnston and long-standing club men Kevin Sorrell and Ben Skirving.^[1]’ By Tues 24th this was leaked to the press and by Weds 25th the reporting of this story was rocking the world of rugby, especially with rumours such as a South African invasion, with players largely replaced by those from the S14^[1]. 

First Question:  So what is the real reason these squad members have been laid off?I have to ask, because three conflicting reasons have come from those close to the squad; 

1: Cash: the club statement at the time^[2] stated; ‘This has been a difficult week but the reality is that Saracens are not immune to the economic realities being faced by many companies across the country.' And other early reports seemed to jump on the ‘Credit crunch’ band wagon ^[3]

2: Nigel’s program notes from Bath game ‘essentially these were rugby decisions.’

3: Venters desires ‘"I only took the work, as director of rugby because I see it as a challenge to create a team that will be supported by South Africans abroad," ^[4] 

Items one and two can be easily reconciled, if it was deemed that players rugby ability did not offer value for money. However two points contradict this way of thinking. Many of the players are still in contract and it would actually COST money to buy them out. Secondly, some of the alleged players on the list have made truly stunning debuts this year and have been crucial in returning key results for the club. However they are also the players that have only just secured first team contracts and are unlikely to be on big wages. With the amount of promise they show – are we really meant to believe the cull was a rugby decision. Couple this with the first statement from the PRA dated 26^th Feb. “All the players are devastated by this unwarranted treatment; we do not see this breach as a reflection on their playing form or a cost cutting exercise, as has been suggested.” ^[5] and the reason for the cull was looking more and more like option 3. The feelings of many Saracens fans was clarified in the blog of Eric Jansen in The Telegraph ^[6] "is this new, artificially created team still the one I deeply care about?" 

Weds 25th Feb:  Edward G chose to come on-line, to this forum to answer any queries which was a brave and honourable step considering the questions that were bound to be asked. However I would question his timing. This Wednesday was also an A game at OA’s v The Army and support was torn, between staying to show solidarity with our boys that had just been made redundant and rushing back to see what Ed G had to say. 

Thurs 26^th March: The first PRA statement reflecting on ‘This is a very sad chapter in the history of such a famous club’ ^[5] 

Sun 1^st March: A truly awesome, nail-biting win over Sale. The Huddle at the end said it all. Sarries were a team – fighting for one another. For a short period on a Sunday life as a Fez was great. Unfortunately this feeling was to be undermined by what our new DOR had being saying in SA over the weekend. 

Mon 2^nd March: Brendan Venter causes waves in South Africa as well as here in Hertfordshire as his native press accused him of poaching SA players. ‘Venter told Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag this week that he didn't want to get into a mudfight over players in the media.’^[7], and confirmed his desire for ‘A rugby home for Boks’ ^[4]. I think Big Bri summerised reaction to this article best; ‘That interview makes me puke.’ ^[8]  

Coupled with this it was reported that Venter had already approached a number of S14 players to recruit them to Sarries. Springboks Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers and Schalk Brits have been approached. “De Villiers and Burger turned down the advances. Other players to have been approached include Lions hooker Ethienne Reynecke and lock Anton van Zyl as well as Lions captain Ernst Joubert. Sharks player Frik Venter is said to have accepted an offer to turn out for the club. ^[9]”

However to date, none of these, or any other reported signings have been confirmed officially by the club. While other teams such as Wasps and Glaws are trotting out the expected announcements that co-incide with this time of year there have been none from Sarries, leaving us looking decidedly bare for next season, which prompts me to ask; 

Question 2: Who will be playing for Sarries next season, Are they of comparable quality to the players let go? 

Weds 4th March: RFU to investigate SAIL ^[10] 

Sat 7^th March: Game at Quins. A loss, for which EJ blames ‘heads being all over the place’ ^[11] "This week was always going to be much harder than last week. You know, you lose your girlfriend and go out and have a drink and for the next 48 hours you are all right." "Then you go home and your girlfriend's not there and that's when it starts to sink in. That's what this week's been like. I was anticipating emotionally we'd struggle in the first part of the game but not as much as we did. I'm really disappointed with our application to play for each other and I apologise to our supporters for that. It's really not good enough."  - It wasn’t 

Mon 9^th March: Second PRA Statement. Uncertainty grows, “Information given to the players by the club this week is fundamentally different to information the players received last week." ^[12] 

Fri 13^th March: The club and Eddie Jones part company. Richard Graham will act as Head coach until the end of the season. ^[13] This is despite point 9 on the original club statement “9. The club has complete confidence in the professionalism and commitment of its current squad, and looks forward to a strong end to the season, under Eddie Jones.” ^[2] The same day it is announced Richard Graham will also be leaving at the end of the season to take up a coaching role with the wallabies. ^[14] 

Sun 15^th March: Game against Bath. Another awe-inspiring performance by the players showing they were holding true to their words and were “committed to honouring their existing contracts and continuing to deliver for their club, Saracens.” ^[12] 

However this was also an experiment by the club, with tickets being handed out to the South Africa Supporters Club. Anecdotal evidence from around the ground suggested that just as many Saffas were he to see the erstwhile blonde Butch James than support the Men in Black. With Baff looking likely to relocate from The Wreck’ to Swindon next year, and with Swindon being also just a hop away from Paddington, it looks like SAIL may have some competition for the London Bokke Rand. Couple this with the widely reported over estimation of South Africans in South London, and the new Visa situation they face and it is difficult to see how focusing so hard on just one ethnic group will pay dividends – and also leads us to Q3. 

Question 3: Long term are Saracens planning to stay in their North London/South Herts homeland or relocate to South London? 

Thurs 19^th March: Controversial report in the Times of a U-turn by Saracens with regard to the contracts of key members of staff. ^[15]. Controversial because Edward G was quick to point out “The 'U-turn' article in The Times yesterday contained one or more factual errors in every single paragraph.” ^[16] and yet fails to point out what these errors are. No official report has come from the club to confirm or deny the facts. 

Sat 21^st March: Saracens lose to Tigers. 

So Edward, You asked for time and said “As a club, we will recover by being honest, by being clear in our objectives and, gradually, by earning the confidence of supporters who feel uncertain today.” ^[17] However it has been a month since a large proportion of our first team squad were sacked and still we are no nearer the truth. This represents nearly a fifth of our GP season, the club has been overshadowed by this news when we should be striving onwards and upwards towards HC rugby and some ECC silverware. 

As Brandon Flowers Sung at the O2 a month ago ^[18]; 

“There is no message we're receiving
Let me know is your heart still beating

Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees
Looking for the answer

You've gotta let me know” 

Note 1: I have refrained from using any players names, except in specific quotes, and I have fully referenced all my sources, Hopefully this ensures I cannot be accused of ‘An error in every paragraph.’ 

Note 2: For those expecting a Tigers match review: They were better than us.  

1: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/saracens/7908906.stm 

2: http://www.saracens.com/news/view.php?Id=5162 

3: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-1155032/Saracens-skipper-De-Kock-escapes-axe-18-players-shown-exit-door.html?ITO=1490

4: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12331_4990915,00.html

5: http://www.prarugby.com/41_1095.php 

6: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/ericjanssen/blog/2009/02/25/saracens_become

_a_south_african_enclave__why 

7:  http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Rugby/Super14/354/e6448cc103444d7b917

fa8b1b1cc1fdb//Venter_Im_not_poaching_Boks

8: http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s104.htm?107,10226588 

9: http://www.lions-tour.com/news/viewarticle.asp?id=18656

10: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/mar/04/rfu-saracens-irb

11: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7906147.stm 

12: http://www.prarugby.com/41_1101.php 

13: http://www.saracens.com/news/view.php?Id=5201

14: http://www.saracens.com/news/view.php?Id=5196

15: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article5935014.ece

16: http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s104.htm?107,10291997

17: http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s104.htm?107,10212760,page=1

18: http://www.elyricsworld.com/human_lyrics_the_killers.html 

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