Schalk Burger to make Saracens exit at end of season

Saracens have confirmed that former South Africa international Schalk Burger will exit the Gallagher Premiership club at the end of the ongoing season.

Burger, who was part of the 2007 World Cup winning South African side joined Saracens in 2016 and has played in 45 Premiership games since then.

The 35-year-old enjoyed a European Champions Cup success with Saracens during the 2016/17 season and will head back to Cape Town this summer.

“I’m going to leave Saracens a happy man. I’ve made great friends here and that’s pretty much the standout feature,” he said.

“The way we go about enjoying rugby, enjoying spending time together, the trips I’ve had with the team and we’ve won a couple of trophies since I’ve been here too so I have a lot of great memories.

“In rugby you go through phases where you play well and don’t play well, but at the end of the day that’s the by-product. What you care about is the quality of the human and the quality of time we’ve spent together as a club.

“I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone for taking not only me in but my whole family. We’ve had a lot of success on the field but what stands out is the friendships I’ve made off the field so a massive thank you to everyone involved.”

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall lavished praise on Burger and his contribution to the club.

“It has been a privilege to have Schalk at Saracens.

“He embodies many of the values we hold dear; competing in every moment, being a great teammate, leaving the club in a better place than you found it.

“We have all learned a great deal from one of rugby’s truly great players. We wish him and his family every success in the future.”

Saracens are currently positioned second in the Gallagher Premiership table with 11 wins from 14 games and will take on Glasgow Warriors in the quarter-final of the Heineken Champions Cup at Allianz Park on 30th March.