By Chris Randall
May 20 2002

The Wayne Shelford deal is not yet done, but it is almost certain that the former All-Black will be Saracens' new director of rugby next season. Despite an official press release on the Saracens.com website (admittedly you have to search to find it), Wayne Shelford has not yet been confirmed as Sarries Head Coach for the next season. However Tim Lawler speaking to sportinglife.com says it’s as good as signed:-

“Wayne Shelford will hopefully be our head coach, I think it’s all done bar the shouting. He’s not prepared to sign anything until every detail is covered, so he knows he’ll be 100% ready to get everything under way. It’s just that there was a loose end surrounding his visa but that’s sorted.”

Uncle Buck is currently in New Zealand hopefully finalising his move over here but according to Tim he has already had a say in the direction Sarries will be taking in the summer:-

”We’ve already been through some player assessments of the squad, and he’s already line up a summer campaign of fitness testing and pre-season training.”

Seems as if the Saracens squad are in for a gruelling summer if the statements about Buck are true. Hopefully he can bring out the potential in what we know is a very talented squad and at the moment there doesn’t seem to be any man management problems:-

“His first impressions with the players have been received really well and he gets on with the guys terrifically well. We very much think he’s the man,” added Lawler.

And I’m inclined to agree with him.