Even in Saracens’ moment of triumph on Saturday their director of rugby, Mark McCall, admitted to mixed feelings. A first Premiership title since the salary cap saga that sent his club spiralling into the Championship ranked among his most satisfying achievements but this week could also bring a gloomy postscript if his old team London Irish become the third financially stricken club to be suspended from the league.
McCall is the smartest of operators and one whose determination to drive Sarries back to the top of the domestic game never left him, even in their darkest hours. He is also among those, however, keenly aware of the reputational damage done to the league when established names such as Wasps, Worcester and now, potentially, Irish disappear in a puff of debt-heavy smoke. “It’s hard to be jubilant when these things are happening,” the Ulsterman said. “I love London Irish and it would be awful if that happens.”
