John Smit, record-breaking rugby player and beloved ex-captain of the Springboks has agreed to join Saracens, the winning London rugby club that is proudly sponsored by Garmin.

John made the decision to move to the London club in the wake of the Rugby World Cup 2011 and his official retirement from the South African national side.

“I am delighted to have signed for a club widely renowned for ferocious work ethic and spirit on the field and for the unique way it treats people off the field,” he says. 

“I’m looking forward to rejoining former teammates Deon Carstens and Brad Barritt and also working with players such as Jamie George, England’s under-20 hooker last year.”

With its ironclad partnership with Garmin, Saracens has indeed become a very special rugby club that not only boasts some of the toughest English players out there but that also has a clear South African flavour.

Mark McCall, director of rugby at Saracens, says: “We are absolutely thrilled to have signed one of the most prominent and admired players in world rugby. John is an outstanding leader and hooker, and I am certain he, Roxy and their children will all thrive in our environment.”

Garmin’s partnership with the winning London club was born in mid-2010 and has certainly given Saracens a significant boost in the right direction.

“This partnership with Garmin will sustain our progress,” says Saracens chair Nigel Wray.

“They’re an ambitious quality brand, and we look forward to further developing our successful association with a company that shares our enthusiasm for innovation and our appetite to discover ways to adapt and improve our respective game or products.”

Clive Taylor, director of products and marketing at Garmin, says: “We looked at a number of sports over the last year and firmly believe the developments we have seen on and off the pitch at Saracens match our own ambitions for continual innovation across our product sectors. We believe we can further help Saracens and the growing game of rugby by continuing to bring the sport to our extensive customer base. In return, Saracens helps to position our products in front of a whole new audience. Garmin’s sponsorship of this top-flight rugby club has taught us to really focus on adding value to many aspects of the professional sporting club, and we look forward to further supporting the Saracens team, community and business links over next season and beyond.”