Edward Griffiths, the chief executive of Saracens, stressed yesterday that the English club's growing notoriety is ill-deserved and railed at being cast as "South African raiders" in the English game.
While Saracens have been praised for their storming passage into the Premiership final on Saturday, they have been mired in controversy off the pitch. The appeal against the 14-week touchline ban on Brenden Venter, their director of rugby, for making gestures towards fans during the victory at Leicester on May 8 was expected to be heard last night.
Crucially, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) sanction prohibits Venter from entering Twickenham for the final. Saracens were infuriated by the punishment, igniting a war of words with the RFU that saw Griffiths threatened with a possible misconduct charge
Eddie Jones, the coach, left last season amid reports of disquiet at the growing South African influence at the club, but Griffiths denied they had sought to upset anyone. "There's probably a perception of the South Africanisation of Saracens that's wide of the mark," he said. "It doesn't exist.
"Just look at the players we've produced through the academy. The soul of this club remains emphatically English. The idea that we're South African raiders trying to tear up the fabric of English rugby is nonsense.
"If we have gained any notoriety then it's not deserved. We're as enthusiastic for the values of English rugby as anyone."
* PA
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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ARGENTINA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Agustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada
Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ramiro Funes Mori, Renzo Saravia, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Matias Suarez
Teams
India (playing XI): Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami
South Africa (squad): Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second
RESULTS
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Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.
6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.
6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.
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