Saracens: 'Full facts' will come out

EURO SPOTLIGHT: Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall insists not everything is black and white regarding the club’s alleged breach of salary cap rules.

He insisted “all the facts of the case” will come out.

The under-fire Premiership and European Cup champions concluded a challenging few days last Saturday with a 21-12 win over Gloucester at Kingsholm.

Now the focus this weekend turns to the Champions Cup, with Saracens the holders after winning the competition in May.

Off the pitch, the Allianz Park club are appealing against a 35-point deduction and a fine of more than £5.3million for breaching salary cap rules for the last three seasons.

In an exclusive interview with the Rugby Tonight programme on BT Sport, McCall said: “People are entitled to their opinions, of course, they are.

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“When they read and they hear the club have been found guilty of what they have been found guilty of, you can understand how they feel.

“Things are never as black and white as they are and I don’t think too many people know too much about all the facts of the case, but I am sure it will come out in due course.”

Saracens’ Champions Cup win in May was the third time the London club had sealed European success.

Many domestic rivals have stated the titles should be taken off McCall’s team and he was asked if the breach of salary cap rules tarnishes their success over the last few seasons.

“I think in lots of peoples eyes, it will, but having been here for the last ten years and seen the hard work of our playing group and staff and the growth of our playing group from 14-year-olds through to British Lions, for us – and hopefully others will realise this – we have never shouted from the treetops about what we have won.

“It has been more about what we have built and the relationships that exist here and the relationships I have with our coaches, staff and playing group is something I cherish.

“I guess the big challenge for us now is to see how we respond to this and can those relationships, which we have worked so hard on over the last ten years, be as strong in two or three years’ time, so that will be the real test for us.”

Source: Press Association