London - Saracens have applied for permission to play a Heineken Cup match against Biarritz in Cape Town.

The round five match, scheduled to be played on Saturday the 13 January 2012, could be played at the Newlands Stadium with its capacity of 51,900 or at the Cape Town Stadium with its 64,100 seats.

Saracens have issued a formal request with SARU, European Rugby Cup, the Rugby Football Union.

In a press statement the club has said it is "committed to acting in the best interests of European rugby” and “will consult widely and seriously with season ticket holders and supporters before reaching any final decision."

Saracens aim to strengthen the relationship of the club with South Africans by playing the fixture in South Africa.

The news comes on the heels of the announcement of the signing of Springbok captain John Smit after the World Cup.

Saracen’s currently has 11 South Africans at the club, although four of these are eligible for England.

Club chief executive Edward Griffiths said after the announcement of Smit's impending arrival: "Our player recruitment is always done from a rugby perspective, but having a World Cup-winning captain will obviously do no harm."

"We are an English club with a strong South African flavour and he fits well with that."

The English champions announced on Wednesday they would host December's round three match against Ospreys at Wembley Stadium.