Edward Griffiths will go east as Saracens develop grand plan to rule the world



Win or lose against Clermont Auvergne at Twickenham on Saturday, Saracens will keep pursuing their global ambitions. Reaching the Heineken Cup final is just part of the masterplan.

Two days after the semi-final clash with heavyweight French opposition, the focus will shift to eastern Europe. Edward Griffiths, Saracens’ chief executive, will fly to Romania to tie up a partnership deal with the country’s champion club, Timisoara.



They will join a growing worldwide network with outposts in Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Nairobi, Sao Paulo and Tonga. All the clubs wear the Saracens colours and the ultimate aim is to create recognition at all points of the rugby atlas.

Twickenham: The Saracens team joke around during a group huddle at the Captain's Run on Thursday

Up for the fight: Former England prop Matt Stevens (left) with coach Joe Shaw

‘We aspire to become the most recognised club brand in world rugby,’ said Griffiths. ‘We want the club to be the best club in Russia, Brazil, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi and everywhere else we are, around the world. We want Saracens to be a brand that is synonymous with the core values of the game and with the highest standards of play.’



That is a grand vision for an institution which endured a nomadic existence until last January, when they moved into Allianz Park. The wandering tribe played for many years at Bramley Road near Barnet, where the amateur arm of the club still operates, and spent a brief spell at Enfield FC’s Southbury Road ground before moving to Watford for a long-term tenancy at Vicarage Road.



Perhaps, given the restless past since Saracens came into existence in 1876, it is understandable why mere consolidation is not an option. ‘As a club, we believe that if we stand still, we’re going backwards,’ said Griffiths.



Since Nigel Wray began ploughing his money into the club at the advent of professionalism to lure the superstar likes of Michael Lynagh, Philippe Sella and Francois Pienaar to join the crusade there has been ambition, but not always stability and a long-term strategy.

Playmaker: Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell in training ahead of Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final

That arrived when South African coach Brendan Venter took charge in 2009 and Mark McCall has maintained the progress since picking up the baton in 2011, with the league title that year being the high point to date.



Earlier this week, McCall reiterated Saracens’ desire to force their way to the ‘top table’ of European rugby, having reached the last-four stage a year ago, only to lose to eventual champions Toulon.



‘It is obviously important because we want to keep moving forward,’ said Griffiths. ‘In the Heineken Cup, we have been quarter-finalists and semi-finalists, so now we want to be finalists. But as a club we are a stronger proposition than we were last year and last year we were stronger than the year before that. If Clermont play an unbelievable game and win, that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re not moving forward.’



From their humble starting point when the game went professional in 1995, Saracens have earned recognition for feats on the field and innovation off it. But Leicester remain the English club with the strongest infrastructure of support, ground capacity and deep-rooted community links.

Mean machine: Flanker Jacques Burger laughs in training on Thursday

Usurping the Tigers and other traditional powerhouse clubs such as Northampton and Gloucester on the domestic scene is not a major incentive.



Griffiths added: ‘Our aim is not particularly to be the dominant club in England; we would be very happy to be one of the leading clubs in what is recognised to be the best league in the world.’



There continue to be grumbles of discontent among Saracens’ rivals about lavish expenditure in pursuit of their ambitions, especially as they continue to post heavy losses. Earlier this month, Northampton chief executive Allan Robson warned of ‘a dangerous situation whereby clubs can live beyond their means’.



Griffiths is unfazed. ‘We are in the middle of an investment phase to get the club into a position where it is commercially viable,’ he said. ‘In terms of criticism, it is a simple fact of life that the more successful you are, the more criticism you will get.



‘If we wanted to stop all criticism of Saracens immediately, it would be unbelievably easy; we would just have to lose six games in a row and suddenly everybody would love us!’