Exeter Chiefs plan to sue Saracens over salary cap scandal
Owen Slot, Chief Rugby Correspondent
November 25 2019, 12:01am,
The Times
Exeter Chiefs are investigating taking legal action against Saracens to recover revenue they lost as a result of losing two Premiership titles to a team who have since been found in breach of the salary-cap rules.
Tony Rowe, the Exeter chairman, has branded Nigel Wray, his opposite number at Saracens, a “cheater” and is due to meet lawyers today to discuss whether Exeter have a legal case.
Saracens were deducted 35 points and fined £5.36 million for breaking the salary cap in each of the past three seasons. In two of those seasons, Saracens won the Premiership title with victory in the Twickenham final over Exeter.
Exeter won the title in 2017, beating Wasps in the final. If they had won those next two finals against Saracens, they would have become the first team to be champions three years in a row since Wasps (2003 to 2005). “There would have been an impact on our commercial value,” Rowe said.
The value of any possible compensation is hard to quantify. The Premiership winners take a cash prize of £120,000 and the runners-up receive £90,000, but the £30,000 disparity would be just the start of any case that Exeter may make. It is extra value in sponsorships that would be far more significant.
“We have got to look to see if we have got any grounds for recompense from Saracens for cheating,” Rowe said. “We’re not sure whether we would have won. You can’t possibly know. The reality is we were cheated out of the chance to win two cups.
“[Wray] is a cheater. I believe he brought the sport into disrepute and he shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it. It’s absolutely ridiculous: he is still muttering away in the press about how hard done by he is. All he has done is brought the sport into disrepute.”
Saracens have beaten Exeter in three of the past four Premiership finalsSaracens have beaten Exeter in three of the past four Premiership finals
JASON CAIRNDUFF/REUTERS
Rowe said that he regrets that Exeter and the other Premiership clubs agreed four years ago to keep confidential another salary-cap breach by Saracens.
“They were put on trust that they wouldn’t do it again,” he said. “I remember the meeting. All the chairmen agreed to work by the rules and the spirit of the rules.
“The game is built on respect. It goes to show that Nigel’s got no respect for any other club.”