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Bok capt leads Saracens talks
06/01/2008 18:30 - (SA)
Johannesburg - With former Springbok captain Morne du Plessis heading up the negotiations, a South African company well-known for its investment in local rugby unions is presently in talks with top England's Saracens to invest in the Premier League club.
The company, South African Investments Limited (Sail) has, according to Sunday tabloid Sondag, entered into negotiations with Saracens to invest millions of Rands in the Premier League club to "create a home from home" for South Africans playing in England.
According to Sondag, Sail has requested the opportunity to provide SA Rugby with a submission about the proposed investment to obtain the approval of the presidents' council before the contract is finalised.
The presidents' council meets on Wednesday, but it seems unlikely that the Sail submission will be fitted into the agenda.
Sail has for some time had business ties with South African rugby unions and is currently a shareholder of Western Province, the Blue Bulls, the Griffons, as well as of the Border Bears cricket franchise.
Want the blessing of Saru
South African rugby players have close ties with Saracens. The 1995 World Cup winning captain Francois Pienaar played and captained Saracens and was also the club's director of rugby.
Former Springbok scrumhalf Neil de Kock is the current Saracens captain and former prop Cobus Visagie and utility back Brent Russell also play for the club. And the Bulls will finalise their negotiations with Eddie Jones, who is a consultant at Saracens, to assist the Pretoria-based franchise with their backline during the Super 14 campaign.
Sail's proposed investment is an attempt to expand their interests abroad, according to Sondag.
Although Sail is not obliged to obtain the approval of SA Rugby for the proposed investment, they will not proceed if they don't get the blessing from South Africa's rugby bosses. Sail chairperson John Newbury is quoted by Sondag that the company has taken a decision to this effect.
Any investment by Sail in Saracens will be just that: an investment. Saracens chair Nigel Wray has emphasised on the club's website that no shares will be traded and that ownership of the club will not be affected by the investment.
- SAPA
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