‘Brendan takes things very emotionally, very personally. It’s part of his super power’

Brendan Venter’s return to the England rugby line-up this season brings with it the prospect of creativity and controversy in equal measure.

The colorful South African’s decision to leave his medical practice in Cape Town and return for a second residency as Saracens the director of rugby sets in motion a panorama of possibilities.

On the one hand, Venter is one of the sharpest minds in the game. As the coach of Italy’s defense in 2017, he was the architect of the ‘Foxes’ tactics which magically erased the offside line and, at least in half, until the confusing England worked out how to play against it, produced a significantly inferior side parity at Twickenham.

On the other hand, he is – or certainly was the first time at Sarries – a disciplinary case waiting to happen.

Emotional, leading the way and fiercely defending his flock, he will be one of the league’s top attractions off the field. If Amazon has some change left over for another documentary, they should follow it all season long.

We roll around the office and sort out suitcases and stuff. I was thinking: ‘this is just crazy’, but each to their own. There was never a dull moment with Brendan.

Alex Sanderson, Sale director of rugby, last worked under Venter as a youth coach at Saracens.

“I remember once doing breakdown exercises with him on the carpet in his office,” Sanderson recalled.

“I say, ‘I want to do this,’ and he says, ‘Well, show me,’ and I actually have to demonstrate on him. We’re rolling around the office and unpacking cases and stuff. I was like, ‘this is just crazy,’ but each to his own.

“There was never a dull moment with Brendan.”

Part of the 1995 World Cup winning Springboks team, whose last appearance was for South Africa saw him sent off for hitting Uruguay tournament in 1999. Venter cut his coaching teeth as a player-coach with London Irish, winning the 2002 Powergen Cup.

When he joined Saracens in 2009 as their seventh manager in as many years, they were a laughing stock, burning money but getting nowhere.

In his 16 months in the job, he transformed the place, taking Saracens to the 2010 Premiership final and laying the foundations for the string of successes that followed under Mark McCall.

The RFU’s disciplinary judgment included several memorable paragraphs condemning Venter for eating biscuits and throwing away sweet papers at his hearing, while awaiting his fate.

However, troubles followed him. He was banned for that Premiership final after the original suspension – for questioning in an interview whether referee David Rose was under the influence at half-time in Saracens’ loss to Leicester – was activated and extended to 14 weeks after another run-in with the Tigers.

He was found guilty of making provocative and inappropriate gestures during Saracens’ win at Welford Road, bowing and blowing kisses to furious home fans.

The RFU’s disciplinary judgment included several memorable paragraphs condemning Venter for eating biscuits and throwing away sweet papers at his hearing, while awaiting his fate.

Saries claimed the ruling bordered on self-parody and compared the way English rugby was run to a country prep school.

Venter returned to the naughty step five months later, this time with European authorities, when he was found guilty of bringing the sport into disrepute for his post-match criticism of referee Christophe Berdos following the defeat to Leinster. He was fined 25,000 euros, of which 15,000 was suspended.

The intrusion was the catalyst for his infamous post-match Sky interview following Saracens’ defeat to Racing Metro in Europe.

Back to the biggest interview in rugby history.

Three twists for Sireli Bobo! https://t.co/yFykD32LPR pic.twitter.com/SYT5GXcRGh

— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) January 23, 2026

Venter, taking inspiration from a comedy sketch in the film Mike Bassett: The English Manager, gave a series of deliberately short, silly answers, plus the catchphrase ‘Three cheers for Sireli Bobo’.

The interviewer was Martin Gillingham, who gave an objective lesson in live reporting under fire. Instead of collapsing, Gillingham pressed harder and harder for a coherent response to the point where it became apparent that it was pointless to continue. Extending the interview to almost a minute was a triumph in itself.

“I was a bit like a swan on the water. Under him, I can tell you, I was kicking like crazy,” Gillingham said.

“The first hint that something different might happen was before the game when I bumped into Edward Griffiths, the chief executive of Saracens. Venter had been sidelined from media duties for a while after disciplinary problems, but Edward informed me that he would be interviewed after the game. I remember him telling me that very well.

When I heard Martin Turner, the director, say in my ear ‘Martin, say goodbye’, it was the perfect moment to bring it to an end.

“It happened in a narrow room with a hole in a wheelbarrow the size of a downstairs toilet in Vicarage Road. I guess I was an unconscious jerk, trying desperately to keep it going. I had voices in my ear from the TV truck in Northampton, saying, ‘what’s going on?’

“I think my natural fighting nature helped me. If he wanted to play games with me, I wasn’t going to take it lying down.”

“But it couldn’t last long. When I heard Martin Turner, the director, in my ear saying ‘Martin, say goodbye’, that was the perfect moment to bring it to an end. Otherwise it could have been very bad.”

“Venter left immediately afterwards. Griffiths, who had sort of squeezed in the back to watch, was giggling like a schoolboy. Although Venter was the star, I have no doubt that he was the writer and producer of the whole thing.”

“I was very amused, but also a huge relief to get through it. It only lasted about 50 seconds, but afterwards I wondered what would have happened if I had run out of questions.

“The postscript was that the two sides played each other again France a week later and I interviewed Brendan again before the game. He answered every question perfectly normally. He didn’t mention the previous week at all. No smile, no recognition, nothing.”

From the outside it was easy to look negatively at Venter during that period, but from the inside it was a different story. Venter had an empathetic, caring side that his players responded to.

Here comes Sanderson again.

“My first experience of working with a head coach was Eddie Jones, who was one extreme – a lot of stick – but Brendan was the complete opposite,” he said.

“Not in terms of standard or acumen – they’re both very sharp coaches – but certainly in terms of family orientation, relationships, the best time spent, not just the length of time spent. There were a lot more carrots, a lot more hands around.”

He is very open to new ideas, innovative ideas. He gives you time, space, and safety to explore, but he’s always looking for an edge.

Venter’s first few weeks at Saracens this time saw the squad take part in wine tasting sessions, card games and personality tests so he could work out how to get the best out of each.

“He’s very open to new ideas, innovative ideas,” Sanderson said. “He gives you the time, the space and the safety to explore, but he always looks for the edge. Not only through the parameters and rules of the game, but through the psychology of the sport which he knows is all important. He is always able to push the buttons.”

The current Saracens players haven’t seen it yet, but they should know he’s ready to reach for the red under the glass if necessary.

“He can get angry, yes. He would get heated even in morning meetings,” Sanderson said. “He takes things very emotionally, very personally – certainly in the moment and around the results we all do. I see that as part of his super power.

“He didn’t come all this way to be average. Those are his words. And he’ll do everything in his power and authority – and probably a few things beyond that – to make sure Saracens are more than competitive, I’m sure. It’s going to be fun.”

Feedback from Saracens players about their colorful, charismatic new supremo is that they are enjoying the ride so far.

Will everyone else enjoy it too? We’ll see.

In a delicious irony, given Venter’s history, Saracens start at Prem on Sunday against Leicester at Welford Road. Let the games begin.