Schalk Brits is happy to turn his back on Boks for Saracens

Chris Jones
5 Aug 2009

Schalk Brits will join the rest of his new Saracens team-mates to watch South Africa tackle Australia on Saturday, adamant he was right to sever his links with the Springboks.

Saracens are in Cape Town for three pre-season matches but will break off from their preparations to watch the Tri-Nations clash at Newlands, where Brits used to play for the Stormers.

The hooker is rated as one of the outstanding ball-carrying forwards in rugby but as Springboks coach Peter de Villiers does not pick overseas players, the 28-year-old knows he has sacrificed his international career by moving to Vicarage Road.

Although he will not be able to add to his three caps while in England, Brits is sure he has made the right decision.

He said: "My only challenge and aim at the moment is to help Sarries and not being that old, I suppose I could always go back to South Africa at some point in terms of the Springboks.

"However, I have played more than 50 games of Super 14 rugby, played for the Springboks and the attitude to dealing with players who are overseas is not going to change - I am certain about that."

While the financial package offered by Sarries was a major factor in the switch, Brits denies that money was his major motivation for joining the club.

He said: "I am looking forward to experiencing rugby in the Premiership and have always wanted the challenge of taking part in the competition and now that's going to happen.

"It's a different kind of rugby they play here than in the Super 14.

"Before I opted for Sarries, there was an opportunity to play in France but this is also about a whole life-change thing and that's why my partner and I are here in London.

"It was difficult to give everything up in South Africa but it's something I really wanted to do at this time in my career."

Saracens have won only one trophy in the professional era - the English Cup in 1998 - and Brits is determined to put that right under new director of rugby and fellow South African, Brendan Venter.

Brits said: "I know that Sarries have an image of being underachievers. It's my intention to help change the view of the club as just being big spenders and to make sure we start winning trophies.

"We have got the talent at Sarries, so let's just go out and do it. Our aim is to win the Premiership and that's why we are training so hard."

Brits announced his arrival in English rugby by helping the Barbarians defeat England at the end of last season - a match that brought him face-to-face with England skipper Steve Borthwick.

The pair are now team-mates and Brits is glad he will be alongside Borthwick this season, which begins against London Irish at Twickenham on 5 September.

B"rits added: Steve is a tough cookie and showed that in the Baa-baas game. He is a really good captain and it's a privilege to be alongside him."

In South Africa, Saracens will play two games against Cape Town University, the first of which is on Friday, and also face Western Province.

They will then return to England to take on London Welsh at Old Albanians on 23 August and Nottingham two days later.

The club will also compete in the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham on 16 August.