South African investors set for Saracens

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SAIL - South African Investments Limited - already has joint ownership of the South African provinces, the Blue Bulls and Western Province as well as the Griffons Rugby Union and Border Bears cricket franchise.

Time to celebrate: Investment from South Africa may be on its way to Sarcens

The company is littered with a number of former South Africa players who have made it in business, and former Springbok captain and Laureus award patron Morne du Plessis sits on their board of directors and they are now eyeing expansion into the South African expat market in Britain.

SAIL chief executive officer Brand de Villiers told South African newspaper Sondag: "There is a big South African rugby market in Britain.

"We hope that Saracens will become a home away from home for South Africans living in Britain."

The investment will go into Premier Team Holdings, which controls Saracens as well as two other businesses - RT Marketing and MBN PRomotions as it links in with SAIL's South African businesses.

SAIL hope the investment will enable player swaps between the South African provinces and Sarries.

"We never managed to get synergy between our different rugby investments in South Africa over the past few years. We are looking at doing that here, but we will have to see what we can do," De Villiers added.

The deal is likely to be finalised in the next six weeks.