Mark McCall rules out a Test job and is keen to extend stay with Saracens

Mark McCall has in effect ruled himself out of contention to take over as England or Ireland head coach in 2019 and dismissed suggestions he is in the frame to lead the British & Irish Lions on their next tour.

McCall’s contract with Saracens runs out in 2019 and he has been linked with replacing Joe Schmidt, who is due to leave his role with Ireland after the World Cup. Having guided Saracens to back-to-back Champions Cups and three Premiership crowns, the Northern Irishman is also sure to be on the Rugby Football Union’s radar with Eddie Jones also set to depart in 2019.

Either job would put McCall among the main candidates to lead the Lions to South Africa in 2021 after Warren Gatland said on Monday that this year’s tour of New Zealand was his last. McCall, however, has revealed he wants to extend his stay at Saracens. “My contract runs out in 2019 and I would like to be here for longer than that,” said McCall, who took over as director of rugby during the 2010-11 season.

“We have a good thing going on here and sometimes you have to realise when you have a good thing going. Genuinely, and some people don’t believe me, but having done this for a while and being lucky enough to have been at this club at the right time with the squad that we have and the age profile we have got – I want to stay here.

Asked about the Lions job, he added: “I’ve never thought about it. I think they’ve always gone for international coaches and I’m not an international coach. I think there are better people qualified than me to do that job.”

The Toulon owner, Mourad Boudjellal, meanwhile, has said the Wales scrum-half, Rhys Webb, has signed a contract to join them next season after Gatland had suggested it was only a “pre-agreement”. If Webb does join, he will be unavailable for Wales after the union changed its selection policy on Monday. “I have a contract with Webb,” Boudjellal told L’Équipe. “If Warren Gatland wants to pay the clause to release him, no worry. But if Gatland pays, it will require a certified cheque.”

The Bath and South Africa lock Francois Louw has been cited for making contact with the eye area of Treviso’s Marco Fuser. Fuser has also been cited for allegedly biting Louw in the same incident during Bath’s Champions Cup victory over the Italian club.