Rate it!

0 votes

Guinness Premiership club Saracens are to release 15 of their 38-man squad at the end of the season.

The mass clearout - which includes former All Blacks lock Chris Jack (pictured) - was announced on Monday and follows the decision of former Australia coach Eddie Jones to leave the club at the end of the season.

Jones is to be replaced by Brendan Venter and it is believed the former Springbok will bring in a host of South African players to replace those being let go.

The casualty list also includes former Wales number eight Michael Owen, Samoa prop Cencus Johnson and centre Kevin Sorrell, the club's longest-serving player.

It remains to be seen whether England captain Steve Borthwick will be affected by the departure of Jones. The lock was signed by Jones from Bath last summer.

"This has been a difficult week, but the reality is that Saracens is not immune to the economic realities being faced by many companies across the country," the club said in a statement.

"Our logic is that, by being open and honest in February, we afford the affected players a realistic chance of finding a new club."

It is believed that Jones decided to leave the club after a disagreement with the club's South African owners - who also have a stake in Super 14 sides the Sharks and the Stormers - over the future of the club.

Newspaper reports last month reported Saracens were planning a ground-share agreement with Premier League club Fulham to tap into potential South African following in West London.

Saracens currently share Vicarage Road, about an hour north of London, with Championship side Watford.

After reaching the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup for the first time last year, the club seemed to be on an upward curve.

But the upheaval appears to have affected the players and they are currently seventh in the Premiership after losing three of their last four league matches.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport