Hougaard set to join Saracens

Stephen Nell - Die Burger

Cape Town - Former Springbok flyhalf Derick Hougaard is set to join the South African revolution at Saracens.

A source at Saracens has revealed to Die Burger that Hougaard is joining the English club.

However, developments there are under a cloud of uncertainty following a report in English newspaper The Guardian that England’s RFU is investigating the indirect ownership in the club by South African company Sail.

Sail has a 50% holding in Premier Team Holdings, the company that runs Saracens.

The Guardian states that this may be a problem according to International Rugby Board (IRB) regulations as Sail also have a 50% stake in the Blue Bulls.

The IRB does not allow for a company to have a controlling stake in more than one rugby entity, except if permission is gained from the rugby bodies. However, The Guardian states that Sail did not get permission from the RFU, who are worried that Saracens will create work for players that don’t qualify to play for England.

Die Burger can now reveal that Hougaard and sevens Springbok Neil Powell are both set to join Saracens.

Several other South Africans – among them Stormers hooker Schalk Brits – are poised to join the club later this year.