SARACENS yesterday (Monday, July 15) announced that Abdelatif Benazzi will be part of their new-look squad for the forthcoming season, after he agreed to honour the remaining year of his two-year contract.

The legendary French lock, signed form Agen at the beginning of last season, had been expected to complete a move to Sale Sharks in order to fulfil his ambition of playing in the Heineken Cup and regain his place in the national squad ahead of next year's World Cup.

However, Benazzi appears to have reconcilled his differences with the club which arose from comments attributed to the 33-year-old in the press during the summer.

"It's great to have him back as a player," said Saracens chief executive Peter Deakin, who had previously described Benazzi's position at the club as "untenable".

"Not only has he set goals to try and achieve personal ambitions for Saracens, he also wants to play for France in the World Cup next year. He has set himself the goal of being a squad member for the French team and so if he has done that he has got to play well for us."

Benazzi, however, is not expected to continue as club captain with Tim Horan, Kyran Bracken or Johnny Marsters expected to get the nod from new head coach Wayne Shelford.

For more from the Sarries' camp, don't miss this week's edition of The Watford Observer.

July 16, 2002 13:30