By Ben Harman
July 3 2003

Saracens Chief Executive Mark Sinderberry has confirmed that the club is close to signing former All Black captain Taine Randell. The 28 year old Kiwi legend has found himself surplus to the requirements of the New Zealand coach John Mitchell and is looking to new horizons.

Randell captained his Super 12 team the Otago Highlanders for an impressive 7 consecutive seasons and lead his country on more occasions than any player excepting Sean Fitzpatrick earning 51 caps in the process.

Weighing in at 110 kgs and standing 1.87 M (6’2”) Randell will bolster the Saracens pack which already boasts 6 new signings as Sinderberry tries to ensure that the forwards will be more competitive next term.

Whilst the back rower lists former Sarries coach Buck Shelford as his boyhood hero, Northampton centre John Leslie is his most respected now. He should find a soul mate in the Sarries fly half Andy Goode though as he lists burgers as his favourite food, and Ronald McDonald as the man he’d most like to be stuck on a desert island with!