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Report: Saracens linked to Springbok No.9

By Ian Cameron
Ivan van Zyl /Getty

South African media are reporting that sometime Springbok and current Bulls scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl is set to join Saracens.

The Bulls number 9, who has been capped six times by the Springboks, has decided to head to Europe and the RFU Championship side look to be favourites to sign him.

According to Netwerk 24, Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone has insisted that Van Zyl won’t be released before mid-2021. Saracens have three nines on the books currently: Aled Davies, Alex Day and Tom Whiteley. Eleven first-team players have left the Saracens since last season.

Why the best players are going to Japan:

Van Zyl was first called up to the Springboks in 2018, making his debut against Wales in a rare away Test match in Washington DC, but was not included in their World Cup Squad for Japan last in 2019.

Having slipped down the South African scrumhalf depth charts, the 25-year-old presumably sees a move to a more lucrative rugby market as a smart one.

SARACENS FULL SENIOR SQUAD LIST

PROPS

Alec Clarey

Eroni Mawi

Josh Ibuanokpe

Mako Vunipola

Ralph Adams-Hale

Richard Barrington

Vincent Koch

HOOKERS

Jamie George

Kapeli Pifeleti

Tom Woolstencroft

LOCKS

Callum Hunter-Hill

Joel Kpoku

Maro Itoje

Tim Swinson

BACK ROW

Andy Christie

Billy Vunipola

Calum Clark

Jackson Wray

Janco Venter

Mike Rhodes

Sean Reffell

SCRUMHALVES

Aled Davies

Alex Day

Tom Whiteley

FLYHALVES

Manu Vunipola

Owen Farrell

Will Hooley

CENTRES

Dom Morris

Duncan Taylor

Elliot Daly

Harry Sloan

Juan Pablo Socino

BACK THREE

Alex Lewington

Ali Crossdale

Elliott Obatoyinbo

Rotimi Segun

Sean Maitland

DEPARTURES

Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)

George Kruis (Panosonic Wild Knights)

Joe Gray (Harlequins)

Liam Williams (Scarlets)

Matt Gallagher (Munster)

Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues)

Titi Lamositele (Montpellier)

Viliami Hakalo (Retired)

Will Skelton (La Rochelle)

Richard Wigglesworth (Leicester Tigers)

Brad Barritt (Retired)

LOANS RETURNING FOR 2021/22 CAMPAIGN

Alex Lozowski (Montpellier)

Ben Earl (Bristol Bears)

Jack Singleton (Gloucester)

Max Malins (Bristol Bears)

Nick Isiekwe (Northampton Saints)

Nick Tompkins (Dragons)

Alex Goode (NEC Green Rockets)