Eight key questions … your guide to the scandal that rocked rugby
WHY WILL SARACENS BE SENT DOWN?
THEY were set to break the £7m salary cap for a fourth consecutive year and appear to have accepted a second 35-point deduction. An ultimatum was presented: open the books, hand back your trophies or accept your fate. Saracens were not keen to allow full access to their accounts, so took the latter option.
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS?
SARACENS needed to save around £2million but have yet to offload any players.
WILL THEY PLAY THE REST OF THEIR PREMIERSHIP MATCHES?
YES, although the 14 games left in the league now seem pointless. Sarries’ only meaningful matches now come in the European Champions Cup, if they qualify for the last eight on Sunday, so they are likely to pick weakened teams in the league.
WHO IS LIKELY TO LEAVE?
Saracens must trim their squad dramatically and quickly as in the Championship they must still fit under the £7m limit. Suggestions yesterday are that middle-ranking players will be hit hardest but England stars could well go, too.
IF THEY WIN THE CHAMPIONS CUP, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO DEFEND IT?
NO. Even if Saracens lift a fourth European Cup in Marseille, their relegation will bar them from the top continental competition for two years. When they inevitably come up from the second tier they would play in
the lesser Challenge Cup until they finish in the top six again.
CAN THEIR STARS PLAY FOR ENGLAND? YES. England have picked Championship players before. If they move abroad, however, they cannot represent their country — apart from in ‘exceptional circumstances’.
WILL THIS AFFECT LIONS SELECTIONS?
AGAIN, it should not. There were some suggestions last night that the Lions, who tour South Africa in 2021, would actually like
their star men to have an easier season. They would be able to join the squad earlier, too.
AND, WHAT ABOUT THEIR DEAL TO PLAY AT TOTTENHAM?
SARACENS signed a five-year deal to play one marquee match a season at Spurs’ new stadium, starting with their game against Harlequins in March. But with no European Cup or big games next year, that may be put on hold.