Rivals won’t forget Sarries salary saga

PREMIERSHIP Rugby are under pressure to provide an update on their salary cap investigation into Saracens, with rival club bosses saying they are being kept in the dark and demanding an outcome before the season starts.

It has now been almost four months since questions were raised over whether the allconquering club had disclosed details of all the co-investment arrangements that exist between their billionaire owner Nigel Wray and First: how we broke the story on March 4 several key players including Owen Farrell, which were uncovered by a Sportsmail investigation.

The club could still be hit with a significant fine or a points deduction if found in breach of the salary cap.Yet no update has been provided since it was announced that there would be a review of all the evidence. Now a prominent club chairman has told Sportsmail that they and their Premiership rivals have ‘not forgotten’ and will be making fresh calls to Premiership Rugby (PRL).

It is understood that clubs may ask PRL whether they are free to enter into similar partnerships, like the investment companies Wray has with Farrell, Maro Itoje and Mako and Billy Vunipola.

The question is pertinent as in the coming months clubs will look to nail down their main players before transfers begin in January, so will want to know what options are available to them. ‘WeW are very interested to see what happens, what the outcome is,’ said the club chairman. ‘BBut we have been told nothing. n My board would like li to know what is happening.

h ‘I will be more interested as a the season comes up to see what is going to happen. We haven’t forgotten, and I wouldn’t want to start next season without knowing what the outcome is.’ In response to the lack of information regarding the investigation, a Premiership Rugby spokesperson said yesterday:

‘The Salary Cap Regulations prevent us from making specific comments about any proceedings. ‘We have a duty to all our clubs to review any allegations of a Salary Cap breach as part of a comprehensive and meticulous procedure. ‘All such allegations are treated extremely seriously in accordance with the Salary Cap Regulations.’

HAVE THEY BROKEN SALARY CAP RULES?