A quarter of a century ago, when Nigel Wray began investing in Saracens, the club played on a public recreation ground in the north London suburbs and before matches the mess from dogs that had been walked on the pitch during the week had to be cleared up. The European champions now play on a swish plastic pitch in Barnet but the whiff from the biggest scandal in English rugby history has engulfed the club.
Wray has now gone, although the benefactor was in the stand at Allianz Park on Sunday behind a pair of dark glasses that could have been a disguise but were actually needed because of the strong winter sun. Their Champions Cup game against Racing 92 could have to all intents ended their season. As it is, their nervy 27-24 victory put Saracens on course for a trip to Dublin to meet Leinster, a side unbeaten this season, in the quarter-finals.
Related: Relegated Saracens edge out Racing 92 to reach Champions Cup quarter-finals
Related: Saracens accept relegation and issue apology for salary cap breaches
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