Compulsory media duties like something in an autocracy - Venter

Saracens' Brendan Venter compared Prem Rugby's media obligations to "something from an autocratic land" after he made a reluctant appearance at a press conference.

The 56-year-old returned to a full-time role at the club in the summer, initially as director of rugby, but has since been given an updated job title of head of culture and technical director.

His no-show at a pre-season media event cost Saracens a £5,000 fine and he avoided questions before and after the club's opening-round win over Leicester.

However, he appeared alongside head coach Joe Shaw to preview this Saturday's match against Bristol and, after initially offering only short answers to reporters' questions, railed against the expectation that he would be the public face of the club.

"I have the desire as a human being not to want to talk," he said. "It is not about me, it is about the team… I expressed that desire before I came."

Venter added: "I asked really kindly and eventually I bent over backwards to explain my position. And then I'm expected again to come and do an interview.

"If we get obsessed, get into an argument and fine a club, that for me does not make sense.

"It sounds like something from an autocratic land, not a democracy where people have the right to say: 'This is what I want to do'.

"If you want an interview, you have a brilliant person in Joe. I do not have the desire to do an interview. It stole my joy the previous time and I want to have a low profile.

"That was my desire and to help to coach the rugby team. I do not want to be doing interviews. It's not because I think I'm better than anybody else. To be put over as an arrogant person who thinks he's better than doing interviews… it's not at all that."

Venter's previous 16-month spell in charge of Saracens was littered with controversy.

He was punished for accusing a referee of "being influenced", making provocative gestures at spectators and claiming officials were not being trained well enough to keep up with the latest laws.

He also ignored the obligation for club captain Steve Borthwick to attend a Heineken Cup launch event, instead sending the now England coach on a beer-fuelled team-bonding trip to Munich.

After one reprimand by European rugby authorities, Venter gave a viral post-match interview, inspired by a scene from the film Mike Bassett: England Manager,, external in which he agreed with the premise of every question asked of him.

After leaving Saracens in 2011, Venter, who won the Rugby World Cup as a player with South Africa in 1995, worked in roles with Durban-based club side the Sharks, as well as with Italy and South Africa.

The changes to his job title since his return to north London, which reportedly included a stint as the club's wine consultant that lasted a matter of days,, external appeared to be an attempt to escape his media obligations.

Prem Rugby rules require the most senior coach in every club to carry out routine media duties.

Their job titles can vary. Rob Baxter is Exeter's director of rugby. George Skivington is Gloucester's head coach. But as the principle decision-maker for their team, both answer questions each week.

Venter claimed in a weekend interview with TNT Sport, the broadcaster who pays £40m a season for action and access to the Prem, that decisions over team selection are done on the basis of a consensus, rather than any single person having a final say.

Regardless, it is expected the Venter will continue to face the media for the rest of the campaign.

Venter added that, despite his reservations, he had been tempted back by a love of coaching and the high-intensity dressing room environment.

"I love coaching rugby. I love working with players. It is a privilege we get as human beings to be in a position where we can influence things, both good and bad," he added.

"People in life rarely get that privilege.

"It's a phenomenal game to be a part of and that's why when [Saracens owner] Dominic [Silvester] asked me, I agreed to come back.

"You make friends like you never make in your life. When there are good times and difficult times, it builds character. I'm privileged enough to be doing that on a daily basis."

Venter did not win any silverware during his first stint in charge of Saracens. His side lost to Leicester in the 2010 Premiership final, a match Venter was banned from as part of a touchline suspension.

However, he left behind a formidably talented and closely bonded squad who would win multiple domestic and European honours under McCall in the following decade.

In behind-the-scenes footage of Venter's speech to his squad at the start of pre-season, he set out his ambition to contend for the Prem title.

"I promise you I don't want to be competitive in this league. I want to dominate," he said.

"This is not a team with a ceiling, this is something special, I have not come all this way to be average."