By Jason Harris
July 15 2002

After speculation over a possible move to premiership rivals Sale Sharks, Saracens' French international Abdel Benazzi has confirmed that he will stay with the Men in Black. Sarries put out a press release on Monday confirming the news that the 78-capped lock will remain at the club for the second year of his two-year contract signed at the beginning of last season.

Saracens owner Nigel Wray is pleased that Benazzi has decided to stay:

"After all the talk about Abdel leaving us it's fantastic that he is now going to rejoin us for the upcoming season. I can't tell you how personally delighted I am that he has decided to rejoin us at training today and we look forward to him making a vital contribution to the playing side of Saracens during the 2002/2003 season."

Competition for the second row berths will be fierce after the recruitment of Welsh international Craig Quinnell, former Sarries favourite Craig Yandell and the retaining of impressive younger players Stuart Hooper and Kieran Roche, all of whom are in with a shout of a starting place in the boilerhouse.

Peter Deakin, the Saracens Chief Executive, is also enthusiastic about a player whose position at the club just over a month ago seemed to be "untenable", saying that "It's great to have him back".

Benazzi has set himself the tough goal of getting back into the French squad in time for next year's World Cup and so it will be in his interest, and that of the fans at the club, that he plays at his very best for Sarries over the coming months.