Saracens announced the takeover in October, with owner Nigel Wray agreeing to sell his majority stake in the club; François Pienaar led South Africa to victory in the 1995 World Cup on home soil; he made 44 appearances as player-manager of Saracens between 2000 and 2002
Last update: 02/16/22 9:57 p.m.
François Pienaar made 44 appearances as Saracens player-coach between 2000 and 2002
The £32m takeover of Saracens by a consortium including World Cup-winning captain Francois Pienaar has been finalized.
The Gallagher Premiership club announced the takeover in October, with Saracens owner Nigel Wray agreeing to sell his majority stake in the club.
A club statement said on Wednesday: “The board of directors of Saracens Group Holdings Limited is pleased to announce the completion of the previously announced transaction relating to the refinancing of the group and the acquisition of a
majority stake in the group by Kimono House Limited.
“This follows receipt of the various required approvals (including from the RFU, PRL and London Borough of Barnet).
“The group includes Saracens Rugby Club, Saracens Mavericks Limited (the owner of the Saracens Mavericks netball team) and Saracens Copthall LLP (the owner of StoneX Stadium).
“Kimono House is owned by a consortium of investors including Dominic Silvester, Neil Golding, Nick Leslau, Paul O’Shea, Francois Pienaar and Marco Masotti.”
Saracens stalwarts Richard Barrington and Vincent Koch celebrate Sunday’s win over Harlequins
Pienaar led South Africa to victory in the 1995 World Cup on home soil, receiving the trophy from South African President Nelson Mandela.
The former flanker made 44 appearances as Saracens player-manager between 2000 and 2002.
Wray, who first invested in the club in 1995 and took full ownership in 2018, has been looking to reduce his stake for some time.
Five-time champion Saracens returned to the Gallagher Premiership for the start of the 2021-22 season after a year in exile.
The London club were relegated in 2020 following salary cap breaches but managed to secure the services of England stars Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Mako and Billy Vunipola and Elliot Daly.
