SALARY CAP SHAKE-UP

PREMIERSHIP rugby have announced an independent review of the salary cap regulations following the Saracens scandal revealed by

Sportsmail.

Former HM treasury minister Lord Myners will lead the review, which is intended to strengthen the powers of the salary cap in time for next season. Premiership rugby (PRL) say they want to ‘provide a world-leading system with extensive investigatory powers and appropriately robust sanctions’.

Saracens breached the cap

in each of the last three seasons and were hit with a 35-point deduction and £5.36million fine. Meanwhile, PRL have confirmed they are in ‘active dialogue’ with Saracens about additional measures to ensure their compliance this season. If Saracens refuse to accept any such measures, they face a further six-point deduction. Darren Childs, chief executive of PRL, said: ‘The salary cap has been fundamental to promoting competition and, while we continue to apply the existing regulations robustly, this review is designed to ensure that we have a world-leading framework in place for the future.’ ÷ GREIG LAIDLAW has retired from international rugby. The 34-year-old scrum-half won 76 caps for Scotland and scored 714 points, second only to Chris Paterson’s 809.