Springbok tighthead Vincent Koch is among the star players who could be set to leave Saracens at the end of the season after their relegation from the Premiership.
Saracens are facing an exodus of senior players after Premiership Rugby confirmed that the English club would be automatically relegated for breaching the competition’s salary-cap rules.
The club was initially docked 35 points and fined £5.36 million last November for breaking the rules over the past three seasons, but after talks with Premiership Rugby it was decided that they would drop down to the Championship next season.
It throws the future of Saracens’ biggest names into question, including the likes of England captain Owen Farrell and the Vunipola brothers.
Koch, who has been with the club since 2016, is also among those linked with a move away. The 29-year-old is contracted with Saracens until 2022, having signed an extension in 2018.
In an interview with Netwerk24, Koch’s agent, Gert van der Merwe, said that the Vodacom Bulls are interested in bringing Koch back to South Africa. SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus would reportedly organise that the governing body gives the Bulls the financial support they need to get the deal done.
However, a deal with the Bulls is hardly a given as Koch has other deals on the table to consider, including from Premiership clubs the Sale Sharks and Harlequins, while French Top 14 giants Montpellier are also keen for his signature.
Koch played for the Blue Bulls in 2012 after coming through the Varsity Cup system with the University of Pretoria.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
