It began with a phone call from a South African to an Ulsterman in France, and it took in the most spectacular success ever known at an English rugby club, with six Premiership titles and three European Cups. On Saturday, Saracens’ defeat by Exeter was the final act in the 15-year reign of their director of rugby, Mark McCall, and brought an end to an era.
“I knew my time was up,” McCall says. “I knew the energy that you need to do the job here, and I think they need a different kind of energy.”
He has overseen a story with every ingredient of modern, professional rugby.
Stellar international names in Maro Itoje, Owen Farrell and Jamie George, the last two of whom are now on the final lap of their playing careers.
McCall has nurtured a golden generation of homegrown stars like Maro Itoje (Photo: Getty)
