ZCZC
BSP-23
RUGBYU-ENG-PR-SARACENS,LEAD
European champions Saracens deducted 35 Premiership points
LONDON, Nov 5, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – English and European champions Saracens
have been docked 35 points and fined over o5 million ($6.5 million) for
breaching the Premiership Rugby salary cap over several seasons, Premiership
Rugby announced on Tuesday.
Saracens — who provided nine of the England squad including captain Owen
Farrell that reached last Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final — had been
subject to a nine-month investigation.
Following a five-day hearing in September and October, an independent
three-man panel, headed by a distinguished former judge, adjudicated that
they had indeed contravened the salary cap which is set at o7 million a year.
“The decision of the Independent Panel is that Saracens Rugby Club failed
to disclose payments to players in each of the seasons 2016-17, 2017-18 and
2018-19,” read a statement from Premiership Rugby.
“In addition, the Club is found to have exceeded the ceiling for payments
to senior players in each of the three seasons. The Panel therefore upheld
all of the charges.
“The sanction that has been imposed on Saracens Rugby Club by the panel is:
a total fine of o5,360,272.31 and a total deduction of 35 league points.”
Saracens who topped the Premiership table last season with 78 points —
before going on to beat Exeter in the final will begin the fourth round of
matches on -26 points.
Newcastle Falcons finished bottom last season with 31.
“The Salary Cap Regulations stipulate that a points deduction may be
imposed in the current season (2019-20) only,” read the statement.
“The sanction has no bearing on any other domestic or European
competition.”
Saracens can seek a review of the decision by an arbitration body but it is
only able to on the strictest of terms.
“The review can only be on the basis that there has been an error of law,
the decision is irrational or that there has been some procedural
unfairness,” read the statement.
“In the event that Saracens Rugby Club seeks a review, the sanctions will
be suspended pending the outcome of that review.”
Saracens have dominated domestic and to a certain extent European rugby in
the past decade winning the Premiership five times and the European trophy on
three occasions.
Their squad reads like a who’s who of English rugby with Farrell, Maro
Itoje and Jamie George to name but three whilst they also have other World
Cup stars in Wales’s Liam Williams and Scotland’s Duncan Taylor.
Tuesday’s judgment will bring huge pressure on the club to be able to
retain some of those stars.
BSS/AFP/RY/1811 hrs