Sarries to prioritise Premiership survival

Director of rugby Mark McCall says Saracens will prioritise Premiership survival over European success this season. It was confirmed last week that the two-time defending Premiership champions are to be docked 35 points and fined £5million for breaching the domestic salary cap. Sarries are appealing the severity of that punishment, but if their points deduction is upheld then they will drop to the foot of the table on -22 points. The London-based club are also the two-time defending European champions and they are due to get their Champions Cup campaign underway against Top 14 club Racing Metro in Paris next Sunday. McCall admits, if Sarries’ Premiership punishment is upheld, then they will have to priorities domestic survival over defending their European crown. “Our job at the moment if the points deduction remains and the appeal is not successful is to try to stay up and that is what we will try and do,” McCall told The Telegraph. “I think we have to (assume the challenge will fail). We have got a plan for the worst-case scenario which will affect our strategy around the Champions Cup.” Saracens made it three wins from four in the Premiership this season with Saturday’s 21-12 victory at Gloucester, but they were booed on to the field by supporters at Kingsholm, while some fans waved fake £50 notes.