Saracens announce major coaching shake-up as Mark McCall to step down with ex-Springbok named as his successor
Mark McCall will step down as Saracens' director of rugby at the end of the season.
Saracens have announced that long-time director of rugby Mark McCall will step down from his position at the end of the season with Brendan Venter taking over the role.
McCall has been in charge of the heavyweight side for 15 consecutive years and has enjoyed ample success in both the PREM and Champions Cup during his tenure.
But this campaign will be his last in the hot-seat as he is set to step aside as boss but will continue as technical adviser and will also be joining the board of directors.
Venter return
Taking over as director of rugby from the start of the 2026/27 term will be former boss Venter, who will rejoin the club in a full-time capacity, Saracens has confirmed.
“When Brendan Venter first joined Saracens as director of rugby in 2009 he recruited Mark McCall, his former centre partner at London Irish, as first team coach,” a statement from the club read.
“Together they established the blueprint that would underpin the most successful period in the club’s history.
“When Brendan stepped away from being full-time at Saracens in early 2011, Mark became director of rugby and Brendan took on the part-time role of technical adviser and he has performed that role helping Mark and the other coaches for the last 15 years. That sense of continuity and collaboration will continue under the new structure.”
Venter said: “My association with Saracens has been continuous for more than 17 years. I’m incredibly proud to once again lead the rugby programme. Mark’s continued involvement was key to me accepting the appointment.”
McCall added: “I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved at Saracens and grateful for the opportunity to have led the rugby programme for so long.
“I feel the time is right for change, while still remaining deeply involved in the club I care so much about.
Supporting Venter
“I’m really looking forward to supporting Brendan and contributing in a way that helps Saracens continue to move forward.”
Saracens director Dominic Silvester applauded McCall for his service to the PREM club over a decade and a half and looks forward to his continued impact in the future.
He said: “It is impossible to overstate the influence Mark provided to Saracens and for so long.
“Mark will be full on with Saracens until the end of this season and it is wonderful for all at Saracens that after he steps back from being director of rugby at the end of the current season, we will continue to benefit from his wisdom from 2026/27 season onwards as Technical Adviser and around the boardroom table.”
Saracens currently sit in sixth place in the PREM standings and finished in that position last season, thus missing out on the play-offs for the first time since 2019/20, the campaign they were relegated to the Championship.
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