Saracens accept 35-point deduction

Saracens have chosen not to appeal against their 35-point deduction and £5.36 million fine for salary cap breaches.

The English and European champions, and Premiership Rugby have released a joint statement declaring the verdict of the independent disciplinary panel will stand unchallenged.

Saracens chairman

Nigel Wray said: “We have made mistakes and so, with humility, we must accept these penalties.

“As a club, we will now pull together and meet the challenges that lie ahead. We confirm our commitment to the salary cap and will continue to work transparently with Premiership Rugby in this regard.”

The maximum possible fine and points deduction were approved for breaches during three seasons up to and including the 2018-19 campaign and follows a nine-month investigation by Premiership Rugby.

The Sport Resolutions panel upheld all charges after finding that Saracens had failed to disclose payments to players and exceeded the ceiling for payments to senior players in each of the three seasons.

Wray revealed the decision not to appeal was on the grounds that it would be “a costly, time consuming and destabilising exercise”, adding that it was also important to act for the “good of the game”.

Even with the 35-point deduction, which comes into immediate effect to leave them 26 points adrift of 11th-placed Leicester, Saracens are unlikely to be relegated on the strength of their points totals for each of the last three seasons.

But they must now demonstrate they are acting within the salary cap regulations, having been in breach since 2016.

Saracens chief Nigel Wray