Brendan Venter back at Saracens

NEWS: There will be a huge coaching shake-up at one of England’s biggest clubs

Following 15 consecutive seasons as Saracens’ Director of Rugby, Mark McCall has made the decision to step down from his role at the end of the current season.

McCall will continue as Technical Adviser for the club and will also be joining the Board of Directors.

Brendan Venter, a former Springbok centre and a 1995 World Cup winner, will rejoin the club in a full-time capacity and assume the role of Director of Rugby from the start of the 2026/27 season, returning to a position he first held at the club in 2009.

Venter has had coaching stints with Italy and the Springboks.

It was a very interesting period as he was appointed the defence coach of Italy in 2017.

However, in addition to his commitments with Italy in that year, Venter also took on the role of defence for South Africa during the mid-year internationals and the Rugby Championship before returning to Italy for the November internationals.

When Venter first joined Saracens as Director of Rugby in 2009, he recruited McCall, his former centre partner at London Irish, as First Team Coach.

Together, they established the blueprint that would underpin the most successful period in the club’s history.

When Venter stepped away from being full-time at Saracens in early 2011, McCall became Director of Rugby, and Venter took on the part-time role of Technical Adviser.

He has performed that role, helping McCall and the other coaches for the last 15 years.

That sense of continuity and collaboration will continue under the new structure.

“My association with Saracens has been continuous for more than seventeen years,” said Venter.

“I’m incredibly proud to once again lead the rugby programme. McCall’s continued involvement was key to my accepting the appointment.”

McCall added: “I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved at Saracens and grateful for the opportunity to have led the rugby programme for so long. I feel the time is right for change, while still remaining deeply involved in the club I care so much about. I’m really looking forward to supporting Venter and contributing in a way that helps Saracens continue to move forward.”

This transition will take effect from the start of the 2026/27 season, ensuring stability, clarity and continuity for players, staff and supporters as Saracens begins its next chapter.

Seems a little odd, when last was he involved in anything relating to rugby?

He was/is a medical doctor ... I think he returned to his stethoscope .

I read he has been consulting for Saracens and some of the SA provinces since leaving coaching full time so he has stayed in the rugby loop

He and his partner, Jean Olivier, has a medical practice here in Strand, Helderberg, Western Cape.

Dr. Jean Olivier is my GP. So while he is gone, his partner will run things...he is all set to go I suppose.

I'm not sure he is any good these days. His last support was a complete implosion of the boks under coetzee

That was Coetzee not Venters issue

He was very good for Saracens and has stayed in the loop as a consultant so I’m guessing he is still equipped for the role

I did not know he had carried on in the capacity as a consultant as one never sees or hears from him. You would have thought we might have seen him in the studio at some point over the years

Three cheers for Brendan Venter, very good very good. :)

He is a nut case…,that interview

Three cheers for Brendan Venter, very good very good. :)

LOL

He is a nut case…,that interview

Loved it, post match interviews are inane nonsense anyway. Might as well make it entertaining.

Agreed

@Pakie I believe the reason he gave that interview like that was cos he had been fined or reprimanded for an interview before where he criticised some of the refs decisions.

Petty AF but brilliantly funny.

Ja I recall something like that, X. Pissingly funny, wish more people would liven up all those boring questions regardless but I guess you have to just do the "ja no credit to the guys we kept our structure and took our chances hey" thing to keep up appearances.

The worst sports question…..’were you proud of yourself when you…..’ . Still waiting for the interviewee that says no.

I cringe whenever SA players are interviewed as most start the interview with thanking the Lord :)

Yes that does seem quite prevalent amongst the SA players….

This is a very religious country, it was ingrained into the whole school system. In my day we even had a bible class during school time. I just checked stats and it seems we are 85% Christian and in total 96% of the country practices some kind of faith.

"This is a very religious country, it was ingrained into the whole school system."

It is ingrained in every fabric of society...Christianity is not just a religion, it's a way of life...it's not supposed to be separated from everyday life...we take a step back reluctantly to accommodate non believers...well some of us....

It is ingrained in every fabric of society

True, Draad.

Back then Saracens had a massive South African private equity investment and listening to schalc Brits how well they were looked after as players and all of the activities they could do as a player off the field, how often they trained during the season, less than what we think, they would have golf days and special days where they get proper breaks during the season. Extremely professional and brought a different dimension.

Not sure if it will be the same again or if Saracens have the administrative innovation that is often lacking in the boardroom

Religion has no place on a Sports Forum. Preaching it as a way of life while only reluctantly tolerating non believers sounds controlling and hypocritical.

Those people who act morally high often support systems that harm others, yet expect everyone to follow their rules.

My opinion is: Belief should be personal, not a tool to dominate, judge, or force on everyone else. It’s beyond cringe worthy...more like puke worthy.

It is ingrained in every fabric of society...Christianity is not just a religion, it's a way of life...it's not supposed to be separated from everyday life...we take a step back reluctantly to accommodate non believers...well some of us....

What a load of utter shit……imagine having a crutch like a religion as your way of life - how fucking sad.

Each to their own I guess but what we don’t want to see is our players banging on about thanking Harry Potter for the talent he gave them blah, blah, blah…..it is literally embarrassing

Well a lot of the players doesn't care what you feel...would it be OK if they thanked the coach or their parents? Why are you measuring them with their beliefs...does their belief offend you?

And M, belief is just as much personal as opinion...expressing a stupid opinion or non-belief is just as cringe worthy to some...since when are we allowed to dictate to others what are acceptable and what not...I won't shove my belief down your throat if you promise to do the same with your non-belief...I didn't bring religion into the topic, I gave a perspective unto a comment someone else made on the topic...it wasn't for or against anything. It was an observation on the reality of the role religion play in our South African community...if you agree with it or not, that's how it is...our community is still very religious...it is what it is.

"What a load of utter shit……imagine having a crutch like a religion as your way of life - how fucking sad."

It's not a crutch, it's purpose and conviction...better than a crutch...inner strength so you won't need a crutch.

Their belief does not offend me I’d just appreciate it if they kept their gobs shut and kept it to the privacy of their worlds

I don’t need to hear that shit in an interview

It’s a crutch, it’s a weakness. Inner strength should come from you not some fictitious entity. I find it absurd that some people’s lives are consumed by a faith

Provide me with some material evidence that God exists and I might start taking it seriously

Well DB, if you read my first post you will see I am saying that belief is personal and does not belong in sport or public forums.

I think thanking a coach or parents is not the same thing, because everyone understands that and no belief is required.

Thanking God depends on belief, and not everyone believes the same thing, yet it's spoken as if everyone does.

Belief may be personal, like opinion, but once it is expressed publicly and repeatedly, it stops being only personal.

At that point, people are allowed to respond to it or criticise it. I am not telling anyone what they must believe.

I am giving my opinion about religion being brought into sport and public spaces. Saying I do not agree with it is not the same as forcing my views on anyone.

I am not trying to push my non belief on anyone. I am just replying to religion already being talked about here. That’s all.

You say you were making an observation about how religious our society is and my observation is about how religion is often used to judge others, instill fear, act morally superior to others and excuse double standards.

I have no problem with people who quietly follow their beliefs. My issue is public preaching, and beliefs being treated as above criticism.

This is my opinion from my experience. You can disagree if you want, but that doesn’t make it wrong.

Also doesn't make it right...makes it your opinion which you are entitled to.

Of all the kak that is spread on this site, much of which I provide, religion is the least of our problems.

Everything is a crutch, Dawie. Wanna work hard and be wealthy, it's a crutch. Wanna work out and be fit, it's a crutch. Wanna listen to music, it's a crutch.

Almost everything we do is there to help us get through the day, week, month year...

Far be it for you to have the intelligence or presence of mind to realise that.

Imagine perpetually using insults and vulgarity as a crutch to shut down conversations when you run out of logical ideas and then having the audacity to insult religious people for their conviction and calling it sad. Have you no self awareness, you massive pleb!!!???

Draad, you've always presented yourself as a good example of what you believe. Nobody is perfect but you've always been reasonable and kind to others. Not an easy thing to do here.

Sad is not what I would use to describe you...EVER.

Most people on here would know that over the years I have expressed my beliefs quite often regarding God, and they would know that I am not even remotely religious in any way at all, and that I have also very often criticised, insulted and questioned God's existence and also how I cannot fathom or understand just how good of a God he can be when he let's so many horrible and terrible things happen, especially to those people who do serve him.

Having said that, it absolutely appalls me to see people on this forum saying that any sportsperson, in his personal moment of glory and achievement, cannot praise or thank what he or she believes enabled her to perform or achieve what they just did....

It has no impact at all on anyone watching around the world, nor does it try in any way to push people to believe in the same belief that they themselves do.... they are only just thanking and acknowledging what they believe gave them the strength and belief to achieve what they just did.... and it also never really exceeds more than 5 - 10 seconds of thanks in any given interview.

Wow....what the fuck have we become

I'm not overly religious in any way but things like this do warm my heart.

"So if you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent, and your God and fuck off, OK?" - Ricky Gervais

I cringe when I see that shit but not as much as when SA players are interviewed and the first fucking thing that comes out of their mouth is….”.I just want to start by giving thanks to the Lord…….”

Cringe away...some of us understand the sentiment.

Everyone has a come to Jesus moment in their lives sooner or later, that said, better than bunch of bearded men running around with alarms clocks on their chest.

What I love about rugby is that on the field we smash the shit out of each other, during the game we will scram and taunt each other but after the game we all go to the pub where friends and foe have arms around each other, singing, talking and being civil in winning (except for the Irish ;) ).

People faith plays a big role and it is great to see that it is part of the rugby culture,

I for one don't bother listening to the pre , during or post comments.

I'll rather be on here venting and shouting then having to listen to some pundit.

Good for the players, good for the game,.

I never want rugby to lose it spirit that we are never friends off the field

DB you say my view is just an opinion, but then you add that it “doesn’t make it right”. That already sounds like judgment.

Christianity is not neutral about non belief. You even say believers “reluctantly” accommodate non believers. Like non believers must feel so honored for your compassion...The arrogance, WOW.

That already shows non belief is not really accepted, only tolerated. When you say religion is ingrained in every fabric of society, you state it as a fact, not as your experience. That leaves no room for disagreement.

When you say Christianity is not just a religion but a way of life, that may be true for you, but you state it as if it applies to everyone.

When you say it is not supposed to be separated from everyday life, you are no longer just describing society. You are saying how things should be.

So when you later say my view “doesn’t make it right”, it is dismissive, because the same standard is not applied to your own statements.

Your beliefs are treated as facts, and my view is treated as opinion. My experience with religion is that non belief is rarely accepted in the same way belief is.

People are questioned, judged, and pressured for not believing, often without any hostility from their side at all.

I am not telling anyone what they must believe. I am explaining why I push back when religion is presented as normal, dominant, and above criticism in public spaces.

If my view is just an opinion, then yours is too. And disagreeing with me does not make my experience invalid, just as my disagreement does not invalidate yours.

Thank you Preacher DB :)

Domini Draad het gepraat haha

;)

Plum., I'm not the Dominee here...I actually accept that not everyone believe the same things...M, you're full of sh!t...stop lecturing me with your woke k@k, I don't have time for your nonsense.

Well DB, you proving my point.

When the discussion gets uncomfortable, you stop debating and start insulting.

If you really accept that not everyone believes the same things, then disagreement should not lead to name calling.

Calling me “woke” just because I don’t share your religious views says more about your intolerance than anything I’ve written.

I am replying directly to what you said about religion and society. If you don’t want a debate, then don’t start one and then switch to insults when you don’t like the reply.

You say you are not the "dominee" here...then don’t act like one by deciding whose views are allowed and whose are not.

its an oldie but so what... opinions are like arseholes, we've all got one.

I'm more than happy to learn that one or more of my lovely sports stars are religious ... with em I think there's a better chance they won't be jolling out there pursuing sex, drugs & ekwietniewatnie ... they'll be safe, happy & healthy in die huis with the missus & family. Keeping em in the game longer (sometimes).

Only janking your chain, Domini Draad

I think you've probably been able to deduce my feelings on the matter by now.

Ja ja Plum, we're good despite we both being full of shit at times...