Ex-Ireland international Mark McCall signs new contract at Saracens
The Director of Rugby, a former Ireland international who hails from Bangor in County Down, joins Head Coach Joe Shaw, Senior Rugby Coach Dan Vickers, Forwards Coach Ian Peel, Defence Coach Adam Powell and Assistant Coach Rob Webber in penning new deals.
The coaching group have overseen the acquisition of more than 10 trophies — including five Premiership titles and three European Cups — during a stint that has lasted over a decade for most of the aforementioned individuals.
McCall, who has been at the helm since 2011, said: 'I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to continue our work with a hungry, motivated group of players and high-calibre staff who care deeply about the players they support.
Advertisement
'We believe that the group has the talent and the drive to develop into a special team. I would like to thank the board for their continued support and trust.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
6 hours ago
- The 42
Ex-Ireland international Mark McCall signs new contract at Saracens
MARK MCCALL has signed a new contract with Saracens, the English Premiership club have confirmed. The Director of Rugby, a former Ireland international who hails from Bangor in County Down, joins Head Coach Joe Shaw, Senior Rugby Coach Dan Vickers, Forwards Coach Ian Peel, Defence Coach Adam Powell and Assistant Coach Rob Webber in penning new deals. The coaching group have overseen the acquisition of more than 10 trophies — including five Premiership titles and three European Cups — during a stint that has lasted over a decade for most of the aforementioned individuals. McCall, who has been at the helm since 2011, said: 'I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to continue our work with a hungry, motivated group of players and high-calibre staff who care deeply about the players they support. Advertisement 'We believe that the group has the talent and the drive to develop into a special team. I would like to thank the board for their continued support and trust.'
Irish Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
La Rochelle sacking suggests ROG's 2025/26 backlash to be felt by Leinster
Munster have drawn former coach Johan van Graan's Bath Rugby in the pool stages of the 2025/26 European Champions Cup. While Leinster will be looking at another familiar face as Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle have come up in their group!Munster and Bath are in Pool 2 and are also joined by RC Toulon, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby and Reds will have new coach Clayton McMillan in place by the time they face van Graan's English champions, a match sure to be a sell-out whichever side is at looking to support Munster, however, will be at the pin of their collar if the match is in Bath as The Rec's capacity is just 14, have made some significant signings for the new season including Henry Arundell from Racing 92. He was a front-line England three-quarter at RWC2023 before the collapse of London Irish forced him to move to France at which point he became inlegible to play for such he is expected to be restored by Steve Borthwick for the November series of games, not least as 2025 Six Nations regular, centre Ollie Lawrence, is already at Graan has also signed Argentine full-back/out-half Santiago Carreras from Gloucester and Exeter hooker Dan Frost. Leinster and La Rochelle will also be alongside two-times winners Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, Bayonne and Stormers. The Blues will be using the Aviva for their home games next season as the RDS continues to be financial preference will be for La Rochelle in Dublin as it looks like a potential sell-out while Leo Cullen may be eying up the potential backlash from O'Gara who was not happy with his club's performance last have just sacked South African-born assistant coach Gurthro Steenkamp, first appointed four years ago, and who is credited with building their formidable multi-nation pack from almost removal comes following the 2022 and 2023 European champions losing tamely to Munster in last season's Last 16 and failing to make the Top 14 play-offs, losing to Pau in the final round to miss out on a place.A club statement noted tersely: 'La Rochelle would like to warmly thank Gurthrö for his dedication and hard work over the past four seasons. We wish him the best for the rest of his career, both on and off the pitch.'At the same time La Rochelle have been heavily involved in recruitment with stars such as France scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec and Georgia's Davit Niniashvili coming in from Racing 92 and Lyon in terms of trying to get an edge Cullen might prefer the most difficult opponent on paper, his former club Leicster Tigers who were last season's English Premier runners-up, to make the trip to 1 comprises Toulouse, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors and Sale 4 is led by reigning champions Bordeaux Bègles, who will face a rematch of last season's final against Northampton Saints. Scarlets, Bristol Bears, Pau and Bulls complete the the pool stage, each club will play four matches against four different clubs which are not from the same league either home or Connacht and Ulster, both of whom failed to qualify for the Champions Cup will play in Challenge were drawn with Ospreys, US Montauban, who will return to the competition for the first time in 15 years, Zebre Parma, two-times Challenge Cup winners Montpellier and Georgian combination side Black Lion in Pool are in Pool 3 alongside two-time Challenge Cup winners Cardiff, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Stade Français Paris and South African club Toyota Cheetahs who received a wildcard invite from 2 features the 2022 winners and last season's runners-up Lyon OU, Perpignan, Dragons, Benetton, Lions, along with the Gallagher Premiership's Newcastle Clubs will play four matches against four different opponents during the pool stage with same league matches kept to a minimum, and only impacting clubs from the URC. 2025/26 INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUPPool 1: Stade Toulousain, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Sale SharksPool 2: Bath Rugby, RC Toulon, Munster Rugby, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby Pool 3: Leinster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, Stade Rochelais, Aviron Bayonnais, DHL StormersPool 4: Union Bordeaux Bègles, Scarlets, Bristol Bears, Pau, Northampton Saints, Vodacom Bulls 2025/26 EPCR CHALLENGE CUPPool 1: Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, US Montauban, Black Lion, Connacht RugbyPool 2: Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Newcastle Falcons, Dragons RFC, Benetton Rugby, Lions, USAPPool 3: Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Stade Français Paris, Ulster Rugby2025/26 weekendsRound 1 – 5/6/7 December 2025Round 2 – 12/13/14 December 2025Round 3 – 9/10/11 January 2026Round 4 – 16/17/18 January 2026 Round of 16 – 3/4/5 April 2026Quarter-finals – 10/11/12 April 2026Semi-finals – 1/2/3 May 2026EPCR Challenge Cup Final – San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Friday 22 MayInvestec Champions Cup Final – San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Saturday 23 May
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Irish Times
Kerry woman who swapped RTÉ for Bordeaux: ‘Their way of life is not just about making money – they work to live and have family time'
From Sneem in Co Kerry, Sinead Harrington has a degree from UCC and University of Limerick and a recent diploma in journalism and content creation. She and her husband, leading rugby coach Noel McNamara, and their three daughters have been living in Bordeaux for the past two years in a small village half an hour's drive from the city called Gradignan on the river Eau Bourde with 20 public parks and surrounded by woodland. 'I grew up in a small village and wanted the girls to experience the same village life in France and Gradignan was the perfect compromise as it suits Noel's work,' she explains. Their life to date has been peripatetic, one she describes as a rollercoaster. 'After school I moved to Cork and then Dublin for work originally for RTÉ. Noel, who is from Clare, was working in Clongowes as a rugby coach and we moved to Clane in Kildare where all our three daughters were born. READ MORE 'He became a head coach for the U20s in UCD and was working for Leinster when an amazing opportunity arose for him in New Zealand for four months, part of the coaching team for North Harbour. 'So I took a leave of absence from RTÉ where I was working in press and publicity and loved the people and the creativity.' After the four months were up, they moved back to Ireland – Noel to work with Leinster and Sinead returning to RTÉ in 2018. 'And then he got this wonderful opportunity to go to Ballito in South Africa, about 40 kilometres from Durban as a coach for the Sharks and we lived apart for five months. 'I stayed at home with the girls – the youngest was only a baby – and we missed each other terribly. So I took a career break from RTÉ and went to South Africa and we lived there for the guts of two years where I did some freelance work as I hate to be idle.' At the time she assumed they would be returning to Ireland. Instead, Noel got a call to move to Bordeaux as a coach for UBB (Union Bordeaux Bègles) and once again they moved. 'We live in an old French house smack bang in the middle of the village, a stone's throw from the children's public school. The first few months were incredibly difficult – I don't know who cried more, me or them. 'Now they are fluent in French and have completely embraced French culture and are involved in theatre, ballet, horse riding and tennis and are very much part of the community. I, however, still can't speak French fluently, but I am trying my best. I find it peaceful here and my two eldest kids can run errands on their own, which gives them a great sense of independence. We cycle everywhere.' Living abroad has enhanced her sense of pride in being Irish. 'I've spoken more Irish since we've moved – it's like a wonderful secret language because nobody here knows it or knows what you are saying,' she says with a laugh. As for UBB fans 'they are a different species and the level of support – win, lose or draw – is second to none. 'It's very special to be part of it. It is the best supported club in Europe in terms of the average attendance and there is no such thing as elitism -in the stadium everyone is equal. They love their rugby, though it is a long and tough season.' She has since set up her own public relations agency. 'I am really fortunate in that it happened organically after people approached me to see if I could work on campaigns for different businesses and it grew from there. I now have clients in Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands and keep the client list small so I can give them as much attention as they deserve. 'My priorities are my girls, but I have the luxury of being able to work around their school hours. School is from. 8.35-4.45 and they are fed at school and have Wednesday off for extracurricular activities such as tennis, theatre and ballet.' The disadvantages of living in France are 'an awful lot of bureaucracy and it can slow you down. A lot is tied up in red tape and once you get used to it, it's a different view of how life should be lived. 'There is a set time for breakfast, lunch and dinner and don't even think about going into a restaurant between those times. They stop serving at 2pm and talk about croissants the way we talk about weather. 'The butcher operates from 8am-12.30 and from 2.30-4pm and it's the same with vegetable and patisserie shops. In medical care, everything is much more accessible. Their way of life is not just about making money – they work to live and have family time – they don't live to work.' She loves Bordeaux. 'It's such a beautiful city with so much history and it's not that big. We are an hour from the Cap Ferrat seaside resort with swimming, surfing and beautiful beach and Arcachon with its famous sand dune, the biggest in France, and on the other side St Emilion, which is like Disneyland. A trip to Spain is two hours away, so you are spoiled for choice.' The biggest disadvantage is missing home and being away from family and friends. 'I've missed birthdays, Mother's and Father's Day, celebrations and funerals – and that does bother me. I don't know if I am adaptable, resilient or in shock from all the moves! 'I'd love to be able to hop in a car and see my parents. We have another two years here and I try to live in the moment and not think too far ahead. But I'm lucky because Bordeaux isn't too far away from Ireland compared to South Africa and I do get to go home quite a lot, but wherever I am in the world, I know I'm at my happiest with my girls and Noel.'
