SARACENS' inability to keep hold of their international prop forwards was again in evidence this week after Christian Califano confirmed he will be leaving the club at the end of the season for personal reasons after just one season at Vicarage Road.

After lengthy discussions with the club's hierarchy, the 31-year-old prop, who also announced his retirement from international rugby, has been released from the remaining two years of his lucrative three-year contract and is heading back to his native France to join Agen.

The loss of the 68-cap French prop, on the back of David Flatman's decision to join Bath, comes as a major set-back to a club, renowned for it's shortcomings upfront, who have seen Roberto Grau, Julian White and Paul Wallace all disappear through the exit door over recent seasons.

Califano, who can play on either side of the scrum, established himself as firm favourite in the dressing room and, after being dogged by injuries this season, has just began to approach something like the form that saw him hailed as one of the best scrummagers in the world game.

However, the departure of Califano, one of the top earners at Vicarage Road along with the retirement of Abdel Benazzi and Tim Horan, is likely to free up a sizeable chunk of the wage cap for the club to bring in top-class replacements.

A small proportion of the budget was spent this week in bringing Andy Kershaw back to the club after a seven-year absence.

The 25-year-old prop, schooled in Barnet, spent eight years at the club as a youngster and earlier this season was brought in on a two-month loan period. But now he has made the switch from London Wasps permanent after putting pen to paper.

May 30, 2003 12:00