Mccall forced to take break from Saracens due to ‘medical reasons’
Club to give director of rugby ‘the support and time he needs’ Head coach Shaw in charge for match at Wasps tomorrow
Mark Mccall is to take a short break from his role as Saracens director of rugby on medical advice.
Players were informed of the news yesterday and sent text messages of support to the 54-year-old.
“People will always come first at our club and Mark will be given all of the support and time he needs,” read a club statement. “Meanwhile, we would ask that everyone respects Mark’s privacy. Mark is obviously more than confident in the coaching team he has worked with for many years to temporarily take the reins.”
Mccall has overseen Saracens’ spell as a dominant force in the English game since taking charge in 2010. They have won five Premiership titles and three Champions Cup crowns.
He signed a contract extension at the beginning of last year, running until the end of the 2024-25 season.
Joe Shaw, the head coach, will take charge, starting with tomorrow’s Gallagher Premiership fixture against Wasps, supported by assistants Kelly Brown, Ian Peel, Kevin Sorrell and Adam Powell.
There was no indication of exactly how long Mccall would be missing.
A number of clubs, plus the Rugby Players Association, sent messages of support.
“Everyone at Premiership Rugby wishes Mark Mccall all the best,” tweeted the league’s official account. “Sending you best wishes from Devon, Mark. Looking forward to seeing you back on the sidelines soon,” Exeter Chiefs said.
Bath said: “Everyone at Bath Rugby sends their best wishes to Mark and hope to see him back as soon as possible.”
Sale Sharks, who are coached by Mccall’s former assistant Alex Sanderson, tweeted: “All the best, Mark, hope to see you back at the Stonex when you’re ready!”
In another message, a former club employee wrote: “Wishing
Mark all the best as he takes a break. He was always such a supportive and caring influence when I was working at the club – you could always count on him when you needed him.”
An Ireland international as a player, winning 13 caps between 1992 and 1998 as a centre, Mccall retired at the age of 31 following a prolapsed disc. He went on to have successful coaching stints with Ulster, winning the Celtic League by a point ahead of Leinster in 2006, and Castres before linking up with Saracens, initially as head coach under Brendan Venter, in 2009.
Saracens are second in the Premiership after winning promotion from the Championship following their enforced relegation for salarycap breaches.
The club’s last league outing was a one-point defeat by top-four rivals Gloucester.
Saracens are in position to make the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup following last weekend’s bonus-point victory over London Irish. They have a game in hand, the postponed fixture against Brive that is set to be played at the beginning of April.
A number of Scotland and Wales internationals have returned to their Premiership clubs ahead of next weekend’s Six Nations, including Dan Biggar, the new Wales captain, who today starts at fly-half for Northampton Saints away to Worcester Warriors.
Scotland captain Stuart Hogg will start for Exeter Chiefs in their game today against London Irish, while Scotland centre Chris Harris starts for Gloucester in their fixture against Newcastle Falcons, with Wales wing Louis Rees-zammit named as a replacement.
None of England’s squad have been released following their training week in Brighton, meaning that Harlequins faced Bath last night without five of their usual starters, including prop Joe Marler, who is sidelined with Covid-19.
League leaders Leicester will also be without five players, including captain Ellis Genge, away to Sale tomorrow.