Brendan Venter began his long-awaited public appearance with head bowed, uttering one‑word answers and with a general demeanour suggesting he would rather be anywhere else. By the end he had compared Prem Rugby to an “autocracy”, mentioned Ukraine and Gaza, and detailed an inspirational talk he recently gave at a school. Of course there was wine to talk, too.
An audience with Saracens’ technical director and head of culture is rarely boring and the latest was worth the wait. To recap, it was announced in February that Venter would replace Mark McCall as director of rugby, returning to the position he left 15 years ago. He has been conspicuous by his absence at press engagements this season, however, and was fined by Prem Rugby.
His job title was changed to head of rugby culture and wine consultant, which felt like a two‑fingered salute to the powers-that-be, and then changed again. The missed media appearances continued until he held court on Wednesday on a rainy afternoon at Saracens’ training base in St Albans. After some monosyllabic responses Venter finally opened up.
This club does not have a director of rugby. This club has an unbelievably competent head coach in Joe [Shaw]. And I ask really kindly, and eventually I bend over backwards to explain my situation and I’m expected again to come and do an interview.
And if we get obsessed and we get into an argument and we fine a club, that for me does not make sense. It sounds like something we do in an autocratic land, in a country, not in a democracy where people have got the right to say: ‘This is not what I want to do.’” Venter has history here, and found himself in disciplinary hot water for speaking his mind when previously in charge. Hence biscuit-gate and a bizarre interview when he offered the immortal line: “three cheers for Sireli Bobo”.
That he has little time for post-match platitudes, means he has been determined to keep a low profile on his return to north London. I want to coach or help coach the rugby team. I do not want to be doing interviews.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
