Premiership Desire for Increased Salary Cap a Matter of Want, Not Need
The desire to compete as one of the top leagues in the world has seen salary capping become a hotly debated topic in the Aviva Premiership of late, but some are rightly against the thought of wages soaring higher.
Earlier this week, an investigation conducted by Owen Slot and John Westerby of The Times (h/t ESPN Scrum) revealed all may not be well in terms of the Premiership's transparency regarding the salary cap.
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At present, clubs are permitted a maximum of £5 million annual salary, incurring a deduction of four points if they go beyond that mark and up to 40 points deduction if salary payments exceed £5.25 million.
Slot and Westerby report a majority of Premiership clubs voted to suspend inquiries into alleged breach of those regulations in an attempt to not tarnish the Premiership image. Ex-England international Brian Moore is among those displeased with the alleged revelation:
For decades, rugby has managed to keep finances from spiralling as it may in other sports, but it would be folly to suggest money isn't gradually taking a greater grip on the sport and its highest powers.
After all, this weekend will see Toulon and Clermont Auvergne—two of the cash-rich Top 14's biggest clubs—compete for their second European final in three seasons; for Toulon, their third in succession.
The Times' report insists "Saracens and one other club" were at the heart of the investigation supposedly put on hold, and it's no surprise that Mark McCall's side have also risen through Europe's ranks as their spending has in kind.
Damian Hopley is the chief executive of the Rugby Players' Association and spoke to The Times, via ESPN Scrum, to give his take on what an increased salary cap would mean for those clubs more able to spend in heavy sums:
"Everyone buys into the principle of the salary cap, we recognise its worth and the purpose it is serving for English rugby.
We've had comments from leading players in the Premiership that breaking the salary cap is akin to being on the field with someone who is taking performance-enhancing supplements.
It's just not fair. Either you play by the rules or you don't. There is a growing sense of frustration amongst the players. We talk about the values of rugby, well there needs to be mutual respect here about what we are all buying into.
We want transparency and accountability across everything that we do. As the players are held accountable every weekend in front of the viewers and the fans in the grounds, we want to make sure that is the same across the industry.
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The further rugby strides into the professional era, the more common it is to see southern-hemisphere stars making headway for Europe, with both Toulon and Saracens among those to profit most from the shrinking of the globe.
Long have we come from the days when rugby clubs relied so largely on those talents native to their respective regions, but it's not possible for everyone to compete in the transfer market.
Using football as a guideline (or a barometer of how not to do things) in certain instances is something we shouldn't utilise too frequently, but one need only glance at rugby's spherical cousin to see how handing the elite free financial reign can be detrimental to competition.
Rules are, after all, there for a reason, and it would be seen as downright fiendish were the allegations regarding a suspended inquiry shown to be true, as Andy McGeady of the Irish Times agrees:
One of the greatest things fans love about club rugby is that it's such a great equaliser. Admittedly, the international game may be dominated by a select few, but the Premiership, Pro12 and Super Rugby have remained largely open to widespread rising and falling of certain clubs for years now.
Instead of football, Wasps owner Derek Richardson likens the Premiership to Formula 1 when speaking in regards to a potential salary cap increase, per ESPN Scrum, a sport almost exclusively decided by who has the biggest wallet:
"The salary cap works very well. There is no point it being like Formula One, when you have your McLarens and Ferraris winning all the time. You need to have the excitement and the fun and the competitiveness there as well.
The salary cap will increase, but it will increase in line with the central revenue from Premiership Rugby. If it increases in a structured manner it is good for English rugby. There is no need to hike it massively in a short period of time.
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In theory, Richardson has as much reason as any other owner to be a supporter of higher salaries being permitted, considering their impending retail bonds on the London Stock Exchange could make them the richest club in the world, per BBC Sport.
And yet his club, now based at Coventry's Ricoh Arena, have made steps back up the Premiership ladder through hard-earned means, good management and even better coaching, not simply frittering money on bigger names.
The inquiry suspension and decision from the "majority of clubs" to put off any punishment could well be influenced by the fact England is in a World Cup year and in no need of unsavoury attention at this point.
Again, though, this would represent a sample of the powerful controlling those less so. ESPN Scrum reported back in March that another boost in broadcasting revenue could be the motivation behind another increase:
Extending the allowances now would merely see those clubs already established as superpowers continue to lure the most coveted assets and distance those Premiership hopefuls further from the upper crust.
Instead, the Premiership, deservedly one of the most watched leagues in rugby, could be a pioneer in balancing the equation and ensuring league-wide competition across the board make for greater entertainment.
After 20 games of the 2014-15 season, London Welsh have failed to win a single game. Before them, we saw the likes of Worcester Warriors struggle, Leeds Carnegie fail to compete and Bristol fade from the top flight.
Money may indeed make the world go around, but the Premiership can stop rugby's worrying, money-fuelled momentum on its axis by ensuring the future sees clubs get what they need first and worry about they want second.
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