Brendan Venter: Saracens' Media Duties Compared to Autocracy
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By Mike Henson, BBC Sport rugby union news reporter
Published 7 October 2026
Saracens' Brendan Venter has compared Prem Rugby's media obligations to "something from an autocratic land" after his recent reluctance to engage with the press.
The 56-year-old, who returned to the club as head of culture and technical director this summer, initially refused to attend a pre-season media event, leading to a £5,000 fine. He later appeared alongside head coach Joe Shaw to preview Saturday's game against Bristol, but expressed his desire to keep a low profile.
"I have the desire as a human being not to want to talk," Venter said. "It is not about me, it is about the team… I expressed that desire before I came."
He added criticism of the pressure put on him to be the club's public face, stating:
"If we get obsessed, get into an argument and fine a club, that for me does not make sense. It sounds like something from an autocratic land, not a democracy where people have the right to say: 'This is what I want to do'."
Venter's previous stint as Saracens director of rugby was marked by controversy, including accusations of referee bias, provocative gestures towards spectators, and criticism of referee training. His return has seen a change in his job title, but he remains adamant that his priority is coaching the team, not media appearances.
"I do not want to be doing interviews," he concluded. "It stole my joy the previous time and I want to have a low profile."