Brendan Venter has hit out at ‘autocratic’ PREM Rugby bosses for fining Saracens amid a storm over his self-imposed media exile and subsequent job title changes.
The South African returned to the London club this summer as director of rugby – a role which required him to fulfil certain television and other journalistic duties.
When Venter didn’t attend the PREM’s pre-season ‘content day’, Saracens were hit with a £5,000 penalty and warned over further possible financial sanctions.
As a result, Venter was moved first to ‘head of rugby culture and wine consultant’ and then ‘head of culture and technical director’ with Saracens head coach Joe Shaw fielding questions both before and after matches instead.
PREM regulations on media are agreed by each of the league’s 10 clubs and as such, Venter attended a press call on Wednesday.
‘I have the desire not to want to talk because it is not about me, it is about the team,’ Venter said. ‘I expressed that desire before I came. I am not the director of rugby at this club.
Brendan Venter (right) has taken aim at PREM bosses after Saracens were fined £5,000 due to his self-imposed media exile
‘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. If we 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.’ It (doing interviews) 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.’
In his first spell with Saracens, Venter was fined on several occasions for comments he made in press conferences. One interview he gave after a European Cup defeat by Racing 92 has gone down in folklore. Venter is also a wine expert and qualified doctor.
‘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,’ he said.
‘When I work as a doctor, I get that privilege. Rugby is very much like wine making. When you get arrogant or too confident, you’ll not make a great wine.
‘Rugby is a phenomenal game to be a part of. I’m privileged enough to be doing that on a daily basis and you know what, nobody has died.
‘That happens in far more high-stakes environments like Ukraine and the Gaza Strip where people are actually dying because of their challenges.’
EL-ABD TO QUIT ENGLAND
England have confirmed their assistant Joe El-Abd will leave Steve Borthwick’s national set-up following the conclusion of next year’s World Cup in Australia.
It is expected he will join French side Clermont Auvergne.
The fact El-Abd’s departure will come in 12 months’ time does not increase the chances of decorated defence coach Shaun Edwards replacing El-Abd in the same role immediately.
Edwards is currently working with England women’s team on a consultancy basis.
Joe El-Abd will leave the England set-up following next year’s World Cup and is expected to join Clermont Auvergne
