Mark McCall follows up Premiership title with new contract at Saracens

(Photo: Getty Images)
By Adam Ellis
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall and six members of backroom staff have all signed new deals soon after lifting the Aviva Premiership title.
Aiming to keep their winning formula intact the club have agreed extensions with defence coach Alex Sanderson, performance director Phil Morrow, forwards coach Ian Peel, backs coach Kevin Sorrell, skills coach Joe Shaw, and kicking coach Dan Vickers.
Saracens chairman Nigel Wray said: “It’s great news that they have all re-signed. They’re a team within a team; a group of friends together – they’re my friends.”
Champions of England for a fourth time in seven seasons after beating Exeter Chiefs 27-10 at Twickenham on Saturday, Saracens have built around their leadership core in the days that have followed with club captain Brad Barritt signing a new contract on Monday.
As well as success domestically under McCall, the Ulsterman led the North London side to back-to-back Champions Cup triumphs in 2016 and 2017. All accomplished despite the losses of head coach Andy Farrell and defence coach Paul Gustard to the lure of international set-ups.
His feats with Saracens have seen McCall tipped to follow his former colleagues into a national team job, with Joe Schmidt likely to leave Ireland after next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan and the RFU’s exit clauses agreed in Eddie Jones’ contract.
But a new deal for the 50-year-old leaves his future firmly at Allianz Park with a large compensation fee required to secure his services. Next season will mark ten years at Saracens for McCall after his left Ulster in 2009.