Rugby: Shelford sacked by Saracens

English rugby club Saracens have sacked former All Blacks captain Wayne "Buck" Shelford as coach after just one season.

In fact the club cleared out their entire coaching staff ahead of the new Zurich Premiership season.

The club finished a disappointing eighth on the table last season, only six points ahead of relegated Bristol, and have been busy in the transfer market since.

Former All Blacks captain Taine Randell is on their shopping list.

But despite their spending spree, Shelford and his coaching team will not be around for the next campaign, as he, his brother Darrell, Tim Wright and Pat Fox all depart Vicarage Road.

"We are today confirming that following a review of the season and the team's performance, we are now seeking a new coaching set up for next season," Saracens chief executive Mark Sinderberry said in a statement.

Since finishing as narrow runners-up to Newcastle in 1998, Saracens' fortunes have slipped.

The club have yet to announce who will replace Shelford who took over the reins at Saracens this season after a long search following the departure of South African Francois Pienaar midway through the 2001/2 season.

Shelford played 42 games, including 22 tests, for the All Blacks from 1986 before he was unceremoniously dumped when Alex Wylie was coach in 1990.

One of the most dominant No 8s in the world at the time, he was an automatic choice for the 1987 World Cup side, and played in five of the six matches in New Zealand's World Cup-winning campaign.

He then took over from David Kirk as captain and led the All Blacks on one of their greatest periods of domination, going unbeaten from 1987 to 1990, with only a drawn test against Australia in 1988 marring the perfect record.

Shelford made his 22nd and final All Black appearance in 1990 against Scotland, dropped in favour of the emerging Zinzan Brooke, leading to a cult "Bring Back Buck" campaign by many fans, some of whom sensed an Auckland-led selection conspiracy.

However, it was not to be and he finally retired at the end of 1991 before moving to Northampton in England, who he later coached successfully.

He returned home to New Zealand in 1997 to continue his coaching career at North Harbour, before leaving for British shores with his Saracens appointment.

The Saracens side he leaves behind -- despite their recent mediocrity -- boast a talented squad, with England stars Richard Hill and Kyran Bracken both key members.

Randell could be one of the new faces at Saracens, should he be left out of the All Blacks World Cup squad.

- NZPA