Saracens docked 35 points

[Rifleman Harris]

Apparently Liam Williams is rumoured to be leaving.

And this will cause some massive problems, keeping players, squad culture for this season etc. Will be interesting to see how it plays out. Further more, to see if they keep their achievements.

Been rumoured for a while - they want him back in Wales where they can control his game time.

The players involved must have also known that the club/Wray was pushing the envelope (brown most likely).

Was the Daly deal the straw that broke the camels back?

You could be right - it was Danny Care on the BBC podcast that I remember expressing thinly disguised 'surprise' at how they could afford yet another Lion when everybody else struggled to keep their existing squads within the cap.

Brown plays for Quins, so I'm not sure why Wray would be pushing envelopes to him? 

[Neils]

PREMIERSHIP RUGBY can confirm that an independent disciplinary panel has reached a decision in respect of charges brought against Saracens Rugby Club for alleged breaches of the Premiership Rugby Salary Cap.

The charges, which relate to the seasons 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19, were brought in June 2019 following a nine-month investigation by Premiership Rugby. In accordance with the Salary Cap Regulations, such charges are referred to the independent dispute service, Sport Resolutions, which appoints an Independent Panel to determine whether the alleged breaches have occurred and to decide any sanction.

The Independent Panel -which conducted a hearing over five days in September and October 2019 - was chaired by the Rt. Hon. Lord Dyson, who was joined on the panel by Aidan Robertson QC and Jeremy Summers. Lord Dyson was Master of the Rolls (President of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and Head of Civil Justice) for four years until he retired in October 2016. He was a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom from April 2010 until October 2012.

The decision of the Independent Panel is that Saracens Rugby Club failed to disclose payments to players in each of the seasons 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. In addition, the Club is found to have exceeded the ceiling for payments to senior players in each of the three seasons. The Panel therefore upheld all of the charges.

The sanction that has been imposed on Saracens Rugby Club by the panel is:

    a total fine of £5,360,272.31
    and a total deduction of 35 league points.

The Salary Cap Regulations stipulate that a points deduction may be imposed in the current season (2019-20) only. The sanction has no bearing on any other domestic or European competition.

The Independent Panel rejected the Club’s challenge on competition law grounds to the validity of the Regulations. In setting out its conclusions, the Panel noted that the salary cap operates in a pro-competitive manner by promoting the objectives of ensuring the financial viability of Clubs, controlling inflationary pressures, providing a level playing field, ensuring a competitive league and enabling Clubs to compete in European competitions.

Under the Regulations, Saracens Rugby Club has the ability to seek a review of the decision by an arbitration body. The review can only be on the basis that there has been an error of law, the decision is irrational or that there has been some procedural unfairness. In the event that Saracens Rugby Club seeks a review, the sanctions will be suspended pending the outcome of that review.

A Premiership Rugby spokesperson said: "The Salary Cap is an important mechanism to ensure a level playing field for Premiership Clubs and maintain a competitive, growing and financially sustainable league. Today’s decision by the Independent Panel upholds both the principle of the Salary Cap and the charges brought following an extensive investigation by Premiership Rugby. We are pleased that this process has reached a conclusion and we look forward to another exciting season of Premiership Rugby.”

The Premiership Rugby Salary Cap Regulations were first introduced in 1999 and can be viewed at www.premiershiprugby.com/salarycap

[Raggs]

Rumour from a "journalist" that Daly deal, and the amount, was the last straw for many of the clubs.

[RogerE]

In my view there should be further investigations into the Agents who must have known about the financial arrangements. Should those who agreed them be barred from dealing with PRL-associated Clubs?

Players I can, to a certain degree, excuse as they often just go along with whatever their agents agree with Clubs.

However what happens about the current playing squad and their contracted payment terms, and the effect it will have on the remainder of this, and future, seasons?


It is the fans I feel for. They have been shafted by the Club they love and support.

[Raggs]

I believe Saracens don't deal with agents? Only the player...

[baldpaul101]

The Independent Panel rejected the Club’s challenge on competition law grounds to the validity of the Regulations. In setting out its conclusions, the Panel noted that the salary cap operates in a pro-competitive manner by promoting the objectives of ensuring the financial viability of Clubs, controlling inflationary pressures, providing a level playing field, ensuring a competitive league and enabling Clubs to compete in European competitions.

So if the clubs challenge hinged on the rules being unfair, then isn't that admission that they have broken the rules?

[Heathen]

I heard that player(s) formerly of this parish, were making enquiries. Also heard that they had to reduce this year's salary limit by £900K.

[BdeB]

The Independent Panel rejected the Club’s challenge on competition law grounds to the validity of the Regulations. In setting out its conclusions, the Panel noted that the salary cap operates in a pro-competitive manner by promoting the objectives of ensuring the financial viability of Clubs, controlling inflationary pressures, providing a level playing field, ensuring a competitive league and enabling Clubs to compete in European competitions.

So if the clubs challenge hinged on the rules being unfair, then isn't that admission that they have broken the rules?

Yes it is, but if they can show the cap is illegal then they can keep their squad together.

[Neils]

European Rugby must have a view. This has completely devalued their competitions

[Silent Bob]

Wow.....incredible situation.

Like many other people what confuses me is that presumably this team is over the limit so how can they be allowed to all compete this season?
Given the talent they have they absolutely could overhaul that to ensure they are not relegated and potentially also win the European Cup and then what?

It is a huge fine to be fair. In this instance I don't blame the players. They are not responsible for administering the club only getting the best deal possible for themselves.

[Raggs]

European Rugby must have a view. This has completely devalued their competitions

How? It has nothing to do with them really. There is no salary cap in the european rugby tournaments.

[wasps]

I can see a scenario whereby whether it's an agent or a player in negotiations, if they're told by Wray or a lawyer in the room that the joint company funding is all above board and fully documented with premier rugby, then they'll happily accept the agreement.

Ultimately, it sounds like these agreements are completely legal providing the club make the salary cap manager aware of them.


The player / agent has to assume that the club does their bit properly.
Ultimately it would be no different to a player being contracted for £500k per year, but the club telling premier rugby that they're only on £300k.
The player would have no knowledge of that

[wasps]

You have to also consider whether the salary cap manager is fit for his role.

He gets details of the salaries for every player.
It shouldn't be that hard to see if something is amiss.

I.e. 11 clubs in the premiership are having to pay £400k-£500k for top international players.
One club is only paying them £300k and has a lot more of them.


The salary cap manager / team presumably have all that information. It shouldn't be hard to identify if some players are paid above/below market rates... Then if the same club appears to be involved on a regular basis that's gotta throw some warning signs.

[Garuda]

Good to see the cheating being addressed, but their titles should have been stripped too as they were won on the back of cheating.

Also, certain players now have established businesses in partnership with Wray. They will presumably continue to financially benefit from this and those benefits still not be counted as part of their club salaries within the cap?

[backdoc]

It is very poor that this was not resolved before the season started.

Are Sarries allowed to continue to play their whole squad this season as if nothing had happened?

How else can this be resolved? Do we get Daly back !!! As if.