Pressure on Saracens is building as their decision to dump 18 players and become a "home away from home" for South Africans continues to attracts widespread criticism.

Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards launched a stinging attack on the South African backers who have pumped £6million into the north London club for 50 per cent control and who will bring in Brendan Venter to take charge of a vastly different squad next season.

Edward Griffiths, the new Sarries chief executive, has denied the club are turning into "London South Africa" and insisted the name will remain the same while admitting they are hoping to attract a new fan base from the ex-pat South African community in the South East.

For Richards, the assurances are not enough and after Quins defeated Sarries 21-15 he said: "It's the way they have handled this and the ethos of the structure they are bringing in behind it. What they are going to put in place when these players have gone is worrying.

"Ruining a club like Saracens and turning it into a South African franchise is something which should be stopped - it's just not English rugby. How can you have a South African side in the English league? It's disgraceful.

"There's been a huge push to bring in South African players into Saracens. The initial thought was that they had got 16 or 17 players lined up but some of these players have turned round and said: 'If we are going to experience a different culture, why go to a South African club in England'. It's quite bizarre, isn't it?"

Eddie Jones, who is quitting at the end of the season, apologised to the club's supporters for the performance which he believes resulted from the upheaval.

"The first 40 minutes people had their heads all over the place," the Sarries director of rugby said. "They just weren't concentrating and they are some of our best players who have been involved in what's going on. That's a concern.

"This match was always going to be much harder than last week when we beat Sale. You know, you lose your girlfriend and go out and have a drink and for the next 48 hours you are all right.

"Then you go home and your girlfriend's not there and that's when it starts to sink in. That's what this week's been like. I'm disappointed with our application and I apologise to our supporters."