Brendan Venter questions ‘autocratic’ decision after Saracens fined by Prem Rugby and explains decision not to do interviews

Brendan Venter has hit out at the Gallagher Prem’s decision to fine Saracens over his refusal to perform media duties as “autocratic”, insisting that he hopes to keep a low profile after they “stole his joy” during his previous stint at the club.

Venter returned on a full-time basis to north London in the summer and was announced as a successor to director of rugby Mark McCall, having consulted closely with his former colleague over the last 15 years.

Saracens clarified, however, last week that Venter was actually appointed as technical director and head of culture, with head coach Joe Shaw expected to perform the majority of pre and post-match interviews.

That came after Prem Rugby is understood to have fined the club £5,000 after Venter did not attend a pre-season media day at Twickenham. Shaw, Maro Itoje and Noah Caluori were present.

Having given a pre-match interview to TNT Sports before his side’s defeat to Sale on Sunday, Venter expanded on his reasoning in a press conference by explaining that having to do media duties had stolen his “joy” during his previous stint in charge.

“I have the desire as a human being not to want to talk because it is not about me, it is about the team. I expressed that desire before I came,” Venter stressed.

“I am not the director of rugby at this club. This club does not have a director of rugby. This club has an unbelievably competent head coach in Joe. I asked really kindly and eventually I bent over backwards to explain my position. And then I’m expected again to come and do an interview. I know it’s your work. You’ve got a job. I’ve got a job. But Joe’s input is way more valuable than mine.

“If we get obsessed, get into an argument and fine a club, that for me does not make sense. It sounds like something from an autocratic land, not a democracy where people have the right to say: ‘This is what I want to do’.

“If you want an interview, you have a brilliant person in Joe. I do not have the desire to do an interview. It stole my joy the previous time and I want to have a low profile. That was my desire and to help to coach the rugby team.

“That was what I wanted to do. I do not want to be doing interviews. It’s not because I think I’m better than anybody else. The input you can get from those who work with me is brilliant. To be put over as an arrogant person who thinks he’s better than doing interviews… it’s not at all that. My motivation is completely different – how can I just get on with my desire to coach the rugby team?”

The 56-year-old former Springbok spent just short of two years as director of rugby before stepping aside for McCall in 2011, continuing as an advisor to the Northern Irishman.

Venter is a qualified doctor who has worked as a GP in Cape Town, but explains that his love of what rugby can give you tempted him back to the club.

“I love coaching rugby. I love working with players,” he said. “It is a privilege we get as human beings to be in a position where we can influence things, both good and bad. People in life rarely get that privilege.

“When I work as a doctor, I get that privilege. I have people come to ask me for an opinion and then I can treat them in a good way. That is why I came back. Rugby is an amazing game because it’s so complex. You don’t get to beat rugby. It’s always a step ahead of you. There are always cleverer people than you.

“Rugby is very much like wine making. When you get arrogant or too confident, you’ll not make a great wine. It’s exactly the same with rugby. It keeps you humble. It’s a phenomenal game to be a part of and that’s why when Dominic [Silvester, Saracens owner] asked me, I agreed to come back. I’m getting exactly that from the people I work with.

“You make friends like you never make in your life. When there are good times and difficult times, it builds character. I’m privileged enough to be doing that on a daily basis and you know what, nobody has died. That’s an unbelievable privilege. That happens in far more high stake environments like Ukraine and the Gaza Strip where people are actually dying because of their challenges. Yes, we’ve got challenges and our bodies perceive them the same. Our ability to deal with that is a privilege. That’s why I came back.”

Saracens host Bristol at the StoneX Stadium on Saturday evening. Shaw confirmed that wing Noah Caluori has been back in training this week, while he is hopeful that hooker Theo Dan may be able to feature in the next few weeks after suffering an injury against Sale.