I think it is only breaking the spirit of the salary cap and will most likely be agreed in a way that protects Sarries against any unlawful breach.
It is however definitely against the point of the cap and in my view cheating by paying someone £A in terms of salary, with an agreement that it will really be £B over an extended period of time. For me it kind of devalues the Premiership, other clubs could technically repeat this behaviour (and most likely will) but that will do nothing to resolve the terrible state of finances in the sport.
Yep - agree with all that. It can be only way any team could afford, in the current "market", so many Lions squad (in the 23) members plus other internationals and ex England players. I think its 7 or 8 Lions, plus the others
I presume Wasps pay at cap, and have possibly one Lions squad member (Launch) and two other England squad players in Robson (third choice at best) and Shields, having lost Hughes. Yes we have some second team ABs x 2 but have lost our SA FB too. And the rest of the squad are decent Prem players, with Taylor and Bassett playing yesterday - but not anywhere near the England squad in reality at present.
Look at Bath - at best - Watson is a Lions starter, Roberts an ex Wales international, JJ England squad. Joe C England squad, Roko, ex squad, Underhill England squad (have I missed any) They have as much money as anyone - yet can stretch to one Lions starter/squad member (pos 2 with JJ)