Matt Stevens, currently in the middle of a two years drugs ban from rugby union, is to join Saracens in January 2011 when his suspension expires, the English Premiership side announced this week.
England prop Stevens was banned last year from all rugby after testing positive for cocaine while a player with Sarries’ Premiership rivals Bath.
A statement issued on Monday by Saracens said the 27-year-old would join the club on January 19, 2011 upon completion of his two-year period of ineligibility.
It added “he will not train with the Saracens squad or be integrated within the club in any way until his ban has expired”.
Brendan Venter, Saracens’ director of rugby, said: “This is a massively significant signing for the club — it demonstrates the scale of our ambition, and it also shows that top players recognise Saracens as a well run club with a bright future.
“Matt is a world class prop with his best rugby ahead of him, and I’m sure he will flourish in our environment,” the former Springbok said of Saracens’ decision to sign the South Africa-born front row.
Stevens, capped 32 times by England since 2004, and a member of the 2005 British and Irish Lions squad that toured New Zealand, added: “I am looking forward to launching the next phase of my rugby career at Saracens in January next year.
“I have many great memories and friends in Bath, but there is something special happening at Saracens and I am very eager to be part of it.”
Stevens resigned from Bath in March last year, quitting a four-year deal with the west country club worth a reported £1-million.
Since being suspended, Stevens has opened a coffee shop in Bath in partnership with former Bath and England colleague Lee Mears.
Saracens are currently in contention for the Premiership title, having become a resurgent force in English rugby this season under Venter.
Stevens was banned after testing positive for cocaine following Bath’s European Cup clash with Glasgow in December 2008.
But his projected return with Saracens still gives him an outside chance of representing England at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
And Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths said he expected Stevens to hit the ground running, telling BBC Radio Five on Monday: “He’s not exactly been lying on the beach.
“Anyone who knows Matt Stevens or has spent 30 seconds in his presence will know that he’s a phenomenally committed young man and he’s magnificently talented,” Griffiths added.
“I don’t think there’s a rugby club in Europe who wouldn’t like to be announcing tonight that Matt Stevens will be joining them next year.
“There’s nothing certain under the sun, but if I was to say anything was certain it’s that Matt Stevens will return hungrier, more competitive and even more influential as a front-row forward next year.
“We’ve had lots of discussions with Matt and we’re keen to move forward. We’re very confident that Matt is the type of person, the kind of character, who will not only fit in to the environment we have here but will contribute and enhance it.”
England are currently struggling for Test-class props with both Phil Vickery and Andrew Sheridan sidelined by injuries while Leicester’s Julian White will be 38 next year.
Not long after he quit Bath, Stevens told the BBC: “I hope with every grain of my soul that one day I will be able to come back and be a better rugby player than I was.” — AFP