Brendan Venter, the newly appointed head of culture and technical director at Saracens, expressed his disdain for the club's media obligations, likening them to "something from an autocratic land". His comments came after a reluctant appearance at a press conference ahead of the match against Bristol this Saturday.

Venter, who returned to Saracens in the summer, faced a £5,000 fine for skipping a pre-season media event. He criticized the expectation that he must be the public face of the club, stating, "I have the desire as a human being not to want to talk. It is not about me, it is about the team."

Key points from Venter's statements include:

• He reiterated his preference for a low profile, emphasizing that his focus should remain on coaching rather than media engagements.
• Venter's previous stint at Saracens was marked by controversy, including accusations against referees and a notorious incident involving club captain Steve Borthwick.
• He acknowledged the pressure from Prem Rugby rules, which require senior coaches to fulfill media duties, but expressed his desire to avoid interviews.

Despite his reservations, Venter admitted that his passion for coaching and the camaraderie of the dressing room drew him back to Saracens. He aims to lead the team to dominate the league, declaring, "This is not a team with a ceiling, this is something special, I have not come all this way to be average."

As the season progresses, it is anticipated that Venter will continue to navigate the complexities of media expectations while focusing on his coaching responsibilities.