Swinson comes out of retirement to join Saracens - another signing?

[13thWarrior]

Saracens sign former Glasgow Warriors and Scotland second row
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53283869

OK so in the last 10 days they've signed Venter, Clarey, Hooley, Sloan, and now Swinson.

Obvious question is obvious: How are they able to afford this? Looking up outgoings I may have answered my own question, they have lost Williams, Skelton, Carre, Kruis, Isiekwe, Spencer,  Singleton, Tompkins, Lozowski, Barritt and Wigglesworth (probably). Some of those are season long loans out. So a pretty big chunk of wages.

But still probably a higher wage bill then the rest of the champ (perhaps not Ealing?) What must all the other Championship clubs be thinking?

[Wiltshire Wasp]

That it is a real privilege to be given the opportunity to play against such quality opponents?   

[Shugs]

The biggest farce is that they haven't really lost a lot of those players. They are just being kept warm by other Prem clubs. I'm so glad we steered clear of that. Just wish others had to.

[Neils]

The biggest farce is that they haven't really lost a lot of those players. They are just being kept warm by other Prem clubs. I'm so glad we steered clear of that. Just wish others had to.

You do wonder with these "loaned" players how much the EAs are contributing to their salaries.

[Hymenoptera]

Are all these signings on 1 year deals, you have to think that next year will be testing the cap with the loanee returns.

[DGP Wasp]

But still probably a higher wage bill then the rest of the champ (perhaps not Ealing?) What must all the other Championship clubs be thinking?

Probably much the same as they were thinking when Saracens' relegation was first confirmed.  It was always going to be a one horse race when you introduce the English and European champions into 2nd tier rugby, even with a good chunk of the squad gone.  Still more than enough quality left to brush the rest of the Championship aside with relative ease.  They'll get a decent home crowd for one game next season (or so they would have thought at the time - now, who knows?), but pretty much zero prospect of promotion.

[Rossm]

But still probably a higher wage bill then the rest of the champ (perhaps not Ealing?) What must all the other Championship clubs be thinking?

Probably much the same as they were thinking when Saracens' relegation was first confirmed.  It was always going to be a one horse race when you introduce the English and European champions into 2nd tier rugby, even with a good chunk of the squad gone.  Still more than enough quality left to brush the rest of the Championship aside with relative ease.  They'll get a decent home crowd for one game next season (or so they would have thought at the time - now, who knows?), but pretty much zero prospect of promotion.

Yes, but what a challenge. EAs will know they've been in a game after some of these contests.