Saracens face scrutiny over Venter’s media absences

Saracens head coach Joe Shaw handled the club’s midweek media session on September 30 after director of rugby Brendan Venter did not attend, amid reports of a £5,000 fine over his absence from the Premiership preseason launch and possible further sanctions. Saracens are reported to dispute the original fine, while neither the club nor Premiership Rugby has publicly confirmed the sanction in the supplied accounts. Venter has also missed other media duties, including those surrounding Saracens’ opening-weekend win at Leicester. Reports say Shaw has taken on the club’s media appearances as Saracens describe Venter’s position as head of rugby culture and wine consultant, rather than director of rugby. The club has not publicly confirmed a change to his day-to-day responsibilities. The accounts differ on whether an additional £500 penalty was imposed after Venter missed a media session before the Leicester match. One report described it as suspended, while others referred to the possibility of further fines without establishing that a second sanction had been issued. Premiership Rugby has not publicly confirmed the status of any additional penalty.