Sports FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2014 Saracens supremo in ‘double’ limbo LONDON: “We are on the verge of history-or nothing.” It could have been the voice of many a Saracens fan as they prepare for some of the most momentous weeks in the life of the 138-year-old club. But Nigel Wray, the man who made that rueful comment, is no ordinary supporter. Since rugby union turned professional 20 years ago, the Saracens chairman has invested an estimated £40 million ($67m, 49m euros) of his own money in helping transform a ‘Cinderella’ side into a major force. Saturday sees Saracens play London rivals Harlequins in an English Premiership semi-final, while the weekend after they contest their first European Cup final against French defending champions Toulon-the team that beat them in the semi-finals last season. “It’s great to be there, but what we don’t want to be known as is the side who played a great semi-final,” Wray told AFP in an interview at Saracens’ Allianz Park. The ground, Saracens’ home since February last year, is situated in the north-west London suburb of Mill Hill, close to the private school of the same name where Wray was introduced to rugby. He later played at county level for Hampshire, but by the time Saracens came calling had already achieved considerable financial success in the City of London. “When the game went professional in 1995 I thought ‘it would be nice to get involved with that’,” Wray recalled. CHARENTE-MARITIME: La Rochelle’s Fijian wing Levani Botia is tackled during the French Pro D2 rugby union match “Coincidentally, Saracens came to see me about sponsor- between La Rochelle and Lyon (LOU) at the Marcel Deflandre stadium in La Rochelle. Lyon beat La Rochelle 27-26, seal- ship so we ended up not doing sponsorship but me, ing its promotion from the ProD2 to the Top 14. — AFP essentially, buying most of the club and thinking that would be enough money to keep it going. “I think it had RUGBY PREVIEW all gone within a year, so one had to have a pretty major re-think,” added Wray. Just as is the case now with a star- studded Toulon side bankrolled by wealthy publisher Cockerill stokes old Mourad Boudjellal and featuring the likes of Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Giteau, Saracens soon became known for their impressive list of big-name players. “In 1998 we fire ahead of derby semis won the (English) Cup and we almost won the league. Stuttering decade LONDON: Richard Cockerill has said the end in their sights. But Sarries director of one of their last ten matches with Saracens. “I think the failure was we didn’t understand why. It fact his Leicester side are playing arch- rugby Mark McCall said the pain of losing Indeed Saracens triumphed 39-17 was because we had very good people-Francois Pienaar, rivals rivals Northampton in the English last season’s domestic semi-final to when the teams last met at Wembley in Philippe Sella, Kyran Bracken, Paddy Johns, Michael Premiership semi-finals will be all the moti- Northampton would keep his side’s con- March. But Quins chief Conor O’Shea, like Lynagh-these weren’t just good players, they were very vation they need. The Tigers beat centration on the job at hand. McCall a former Ireland international, good people and we didn’t actually get that. “We then Northampton in last season’s Premiership “We were disappointed with how we knows his team will arrive at Saracens’ stuttered for the best part of 10 years.” But the arrival of final at Twickenham, a match where the played in last season’s semi-final,” said home ground in north-west London on a Edward Griffiths, the former South Africa Rugby Union Saints never recovered from the red card McCall. “That disappointment has been fine run of form. “We’ve won 13 out of our chief executive and directors of rugby such as Brendan shown to England hooker Dylan Hartley for there for 12 months, and all our focus is last 17, we’ve won our last five in a row, Venter, the former Springbok and current boss Mark swearing at referee Wayne Barnes. And in going to be on our preparation for Quins. we’ve had to scrape wins but mental McCall, helped create what Wray calls the “Saracens revo- this term’s regular season, Leicester were “Whatever happens the week after is irrele- strength is a huge thing.” O’Shea added: lution” that propelled the club to the Premiership title in the only side to win at Northampton’s vant. We are desperate to get through to “We’ll be completely written off, I’m pretty 2011. On the field, this been exemplified by the ‘Wolf Pack’ Franklin’s Gardens ground, the venue for the final.” Harlequins, who edged out comfortable with that - you can write this defense instituted by coach Paul Gustard, but Wray said Friday’s semi-final. Leicester have not lost Bath for a semi-final spot, have won just team off any day.” — AFP the changed environment extended far beyond the to Northampton in 10 fixtures, a record touchline. “We now definitely have a culture whereby which Cockerill, a veteran of the East everyone matters from the kit man, everybody’s family Midlands derby as a player as well as a Odds against Sharks in matters. coach, is well aware. “I think if you asked any other Premiership club, they “I would hate to lose to Northampton would say Saracens are a team,” said Wray of a side now because I would hate to lose to Crusaders showdown captained by former England skipper Steve Borthwick and Northampton, don’t worry about it being a SYDNEY: The Coastal Sharks put their African and Australian opposition in including current Red Rose stars such as Chris Ashton, semi-final,” said Cockerill of a rivalry Super Rugby competition lead on the Christchurch. Owen Farrell and the Vunipola brothers. “That’s what we between the two clubs that dates back 134 got wrong for many years.” With the Rugby Champions line against the red-hot Canterbury Only two South African teams have years. Victory would see Leicester into a Crusaders in Christchurch this weekend beaten the Crusaders in New Zealand in Cup set to replace the European Cup from next season, tenth consecutive Premiership final and for where they have never won. The Durban- 18 years of Super Rugby-the Cats (now Wray believes club rugby is on the verge of “a major all that Northampton finished second in the based Sharks lead the southern hemi- Lions) in 2001 and the Bulls in 1996. “We explosion in interest and activity” over the next 10 years. league, four points in front of the Tigers, it is sphere provincial series by just one point knew this period of the season was going “There’s no doubt sport sells television,” said Wray as he Cockerill’s men who will be the favourites. from defending champions the Waikato to be really tough, the Brumbies are the reflected on the competition between broadcasters Sky But New Zealand-born Hartley said now was Chiefs, with the ACT Brumbies a further top Australian side and got to the final and BT to screen matches involving Premiership clubs. the time for the Saints to set the record point away. Jake White’s Sharks went last year,” White said. “But what about Google? What about all the social media straight and end a winless run against down 16-9 to the Brumbies in Canberra “The Crusaders are always contenders channels? Sport is a language that everyone speaks.” Leicester that stretches back four years. last week, but face the seven-time Super and the Sharks haven’t won in While lamenting the absence of a common European “I think we respond well to challenges,” Rugby champion Crusaders fuelled by Christchurch. “The nice thing is that we’re salary cap (“we can’t all play by different sets of rules”), he said. “Ulster away last season, Leinster the momentum of five straight wins. still in control of our own destiny and Wray was relaxed about the recent television deal agreed away this season. “When it is laid down to A bonus-point victory could put the there’s a lot more rugby to be played.” by France’s Top 14 worth £290 million in total over the us, we respond well. We can’t keep saying Crusaders level with the Sharks, while the The Crusaders are the hottest side cur- next five seasons-by the far most lucrative broadcast con- success is being a top-four side. The next Brumbies could go top if they beat the rently in Super Rugby following their 57- tract for a domestic rugby tournament. “I’m jolly pleased thing to measure our success is a trophy.” Central Cheetahs in Bloemfontein tomor- 29 demolition of the Queensland Reds in about their television deal because it means ours should Tomorrow’s second semi-final is an all- row. The Chiefs, along with the Northern Brisbane last weekend. With fly-half do the same next time,” he said. And while some of the London affair between table-toppers Bulls and Auckland Blues, have the week- Colin Slade in career-best form and inspi- other ‘new’ owners from the ‘Class of 95’ have come and Saracens and Harlequins, Leicester’s two end off with a bye. rational All Black skipper Richie McCaw gone, the 66-year-old Wray plans on being around a while immediate predecessors as champions of White knows what confronts his team back from injury, the pieces are falling yet.