Champions Cup
Who Could be Leaving Saracens Soon?
With a growing acceptance that Saracens will have to chop and change their squad over the next few months, we take a quick look at who is reportedly set for the exit door
Following Saracens breach of the salary cap regulations, leaving them with over £5m in fines and being docked 35 points things were always going to be tough but the extent of their downfall is coming to the fore now.
Having breached the £7m salary cap rule in each of the last three seasons, Sarries were hit with their punishments, but in recent days interim chief executive of the club Edward Grtiffiths admitted that they may have to offload players and reduce wages to comply with the rules for this season.
With that in mind it became apparent that Wales international full-back Liam Williams could move to the Scarlets mid-season, having originally agreed a deal to join them during the summer.
It remains unclear if that move will be fast-forwarded but when asked about the situation director of rugby Mark McCall confirmed there is a real chance that Williams may have played his final game for the club.
“I’d say there is a possibility. It was Liam’s decision first up that he was going to go back to the Scarlets, back to Wales, and that was for family reasons. We understood that completely and we don’t regret, and he doesn’t regret, him coming to Saracens. We don’t regret bringing him to Saracens, he has been brilliant. He was always going to go back to Wales regardless of the salary cap decision,” he said.
However, Williams has not featured for Saracens this season after picking up a long-term injury at the Rugby World Cup with Wales and they have plenty of cover for his position with the likes of Elliot Daly on the books.
Following his comments on Williams McCall admitted that other players may follow him out of the club, but that those players would more than likely be ones entering the latter stages of their contracts or their careers.
“We’ve got to make sure we do anything that needs to be done really well, and I am sure we will. We are hoping it won’t be too cold. If anything has to happen it will be to players who will be coming towards the end of their careers or their contract ends in four months’ time. Ideally that’s what would happen and we need to make sure those players leave the club amicably and on good terms, not on bad terms. I am really desperate for that to be the case because they have given the club a lot in the time they have been here. It is tricky, of course it is tricky, and it is not ideal but if something needs to be done, it needs to be done and we will do it as well as we can,” he added.
It is believed that players such as Juan Figallo, Calum Clark and Michael Rhodes could also leave before the end of the current campaign to free up financial space.
While star backs Brad Barritt and Richard Wigglesworth appear set for departure come the end of the current season in order to cut down the wage bill even further again.
At this moment in time there are no worries of any of the club’s English internationals being cut loose meaning the likes of Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, George Kruis and both Billy and Mako Vunipola will remain.
However, with Saracens fighting for survival in the Premiership and facing a battle to progress to the Champions Cup knock-out stages, only time will tell if their stars will stay or go as a lack of European rugby could push them away.
Munster Rugby and the Crusaders are set to create history in 2024 with a world-first ‘Clash of Champions’ game on Saturday, February 3 (5pm).
The New Zealand franchise secured their seventh successive Super Rugby Pacific championship on Saturday in Waikato defeating Chiefs 25-20 to retain their title. They are the most successful team in the competition’s history having won 14 trophies and are world renowned for their history and record of success and excellence.
Following Munster’s recent URC success in Cape Town, it will be the first time ever the reigning champions of the URC and Super Rugby face off against each other.
Former Munster Head Coach Rob Penney has already been confirmed as the new Crusaders Head Coach from 2024 and their pre-season campaign will see them embark on their first-ever international tour for fixtures against Munster and Bristol Bears.
Munster Rugby CEO, Ian Flanagan said: “We are delighted to welcome the Super Rugby champions to Munster, hosting a groundbreaking fixture against the Crusaders.
“We hold a proud and rich history of playing touring sides and I’ve no doubt next February’s game will be a special occasion for all involved.”
Colin Mansbridge, Crusaders CEO, said: “The Crusaders are thrilled to be coming over to Ireland and the UK to face some stiff competition away from home.
“NZ and Australian clubs have been working on the World Club Competition for years, so when an opportunity for Super teams to play Northern Hemisphere counterparts came up, it was just too good to pass up.
“Munster have a history of giving touring sides a pretty hard time, so they present particularly tough competition. There’s also the added connection with our new Head Coach Rob Penney who coached there,” Mansbridge said.
The venue within Munster, and ticket details, will be confirmed in due course. MRSC members will be contacted directly regarding a pre-sale.
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2024 Crusaders Ireland and UK Fixtures
Saturday, February 3, 2024
Munster Rugby v Crusaders, Venue TBC, 5pm;
Friday February 9, 2024
Bristol Bears v Crusaders, Ashton Gate, 7.30pm;
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
The draw for the pool stages of the 2023/24 Champions Cup took place earlier this afternoon in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Leinster Rugby have been drawn in Pool 4, alongside La Rochelle, Stade Francais, Leicester Tigers, DHL Stormers and Sale Sharks.
Leo Cullen’s team will face La Rochelle, Stade Francais, Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks in the four pool matches, with two matches at home, and two matches away.
The top-four teams from each pool will advance to the Round of 16, with the fifth-placed teams moving into the EPCR Challange Cup.
All fixture details will be confirmed in due course.
2023/24 weekends
Round 1 – 8/9/10 December 2023
Round 2 – 15/16/17 December 2023
Round 3 – 12/13/14 January 2024
Round 4 – 19/20/21 January 2024
Round of 16 – 5/6/7 April 2024
Quarter-Finals – 12/13/14 April 2024
Semi-Finals – 3/4/5 May 2024
EPCR Challenge Cup Final – Friday 24 May 2024, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Champions Cup Final – Saturday 25 May 2024, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Images & Content from Leinster Rugby
Munster will face Bayonne, Exeter Chiefs, Toulon and Northampton Saints in the pool stages of the 2023/24 Champions Cup.
Munster were drawn in Pool 3 which also includes the Glasgow Warriors.
Munster were drawn as a Tier 1 side alongside La Rochelle, Toulouse and Saracens.
The four highest-ranked clubs from each of the pools will qualify for the knockout stage.
Fixture details will be confirmed at a later date.
Draw
Pool 1
Saracens
Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Vodacom Bulls
Bristol Bears
Connacht Rugby
Lyon
Pool 2
Stade Toulousain
Cardiff Rugby
Bath Rugby
Racing 92
Harlequins
Ulster Rugby
Pool 3
Munster Rugby
Aviron Bayonnais
Glasgow Warriors
Exeter Chiefs
RC Toulon
Northampton Saints
Pool 4
Stade Rochelais
Stade Francais Paris
Leicester Tigers
DHL Stormers
Leinster Rugby
Sale Sharks
2023/24 WEEKENDS
Round 1 – 8/9/10 December 2023
Round 2 – 15/16/17 December 2023
Round 3 – 12/13/14 January 2024
Round 4 – 19/20/21 January 2024
Round of 16 – 5/6/7 April 2024
Quarter-finals – 12/13/14 April 2024
Semi-finals – 3/4/5 May 2024
EPCR Challenge Cup final – Friday 24 May 2024, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Champions Cup final – Saturday 25 May 2024, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
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