Aviva Premiership
Carstens to quit Saracens for Stormers
ESPNscrum Staff
November 10, 2011
Saracens' Deon Carstens stretches the Sale defence, Saracens v Sale Sharks, Aviva Premiership, Vicarage Road, England, September 12, 2010
Carstens is heading back to South Africa to link up with Western Province © Getty Images
Enlarge
Related Links
Players/Officials: Deon Carstens
Tournaments/Tours: Super Rugby | Aviva Premiership

Saracens have released South African international prop Deon Carstens from his contract to allow him to join The Stormers ahead of the new Super Rugby season.

The 32-year-old loose-head will return home following a request by the Cape Town-based side who are keen to bolster their front row ranks ahead of the 2012 campaign. "We have a partnership with Western Province rugby, and any partnership must work both ways," Saracens rugby director Mark McCall said.

"The Stormers urgently need a top-class international loosehead prop for the forthcoming Super Rugby season. The move makes sense for the player, and so we have agreed to the release.

"Deon has made a magnificent impact at Saracens over the past 18 months, and his departure presents us with some difficult mid-season challenges, but we wish him, his wife and young daughter all the best in Cape Town. Since this is the right decision for Deon and his family, it must be the right decision for us."

Carstens, who joined Saracens last year from The Sharks, added: "I am very sad to be leaving Saracens, but I am massively looking forward to the opportunity in Cape Town. I am also very grateful to Saracens for their pragmatic approach to this situation."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices