We consider that to impose a deduction of 70 points in one Salary Cap Year is disproportionate and is not required to satisfy the underlying purpose of the relegations.
"Another charge was that England and Saracens lock Maro Itoje, one of the biggest stars in the game, was paid a lump sum for three years of £30,000, £30,000, £35,000 by a Saracens-connected hospitality company based at Saracens, which did all the hospitality at their Allianz Park ground and was run by the chairman's daughter, Lucy Wray.The report noted that there was no evidence Itoje had attended any hospitality events and was not paid on a per-event basis so this is a salary benefit and not a commercial arrangement. “It just leaves a sour taste in the mouth when you go to Twickenham and we just didn’t quite have enough firepower, you know? Renovation costs were also loaned, interest-free, by Wray.It is understood that Saracens' defence was that Wray considered these payments to be equity investments and if they were declared as such - rather than as director loans, on the advice of an accountant - they would have been approved by the salary cap manager.In his witness statement, Mr Wray said these payments were "bona fide commercial transactions with a number of players based on the merit of those investments, not, as PRL suggests, in order to provide an additional reward to players for playing their rugby at the club. But Saracens' defence is understood to have been that Ashton left Saracens shortly after this property was bought, meaning it could not have been a benefit for playing for Saracens.It is understood that Saracens explored the option of appealing the initial ruling in November, which led to a £5.3m fine and deduction of 35 points.It is thought the club did not resist an investigative audit at the end of this season but they did resist a three-year retrospective audit on the grounds that it would be unfair - in the club's view - if the same scrutiny was not applied to every Premiership club.The panel advised against the relegation of Saracens and noted in their decision: "We accept that the breaches were not deliberate, but in our view they were reckless. Saracens would say, however, that this was a commercial arrangement by an independent company similar to ones they have with lots of current and former players.The report also notes a salary cap breach with regards to what they said was an overspend of £871,000 by Wray and two other directors buying shares in Itoje's image rights company.They paid £1.6m for a 30 per cent stake in Itoje's image rights company, based on a valuation by PwC. Saracens were found to have breached the salary cap in three consecutive seasons. A: Saracens' squad of around 50 players includes 24 internationals, and 10 who have toured with the Lions. But Premiership Rugby said the shares were only worth £800,000 based on a valuation by a different accountancy firm.Premiership Rugby said Saracens overpaid Itoje's image rights because he was being underpaid in normal salary so the club could come in under the salary cap.Saracens were also found to have breached the salary cap by £319,600.76 with regard to a property bought by a former player Chris Ashton.The report, compiled by Sport Resolutions, a specialist independent dispute service, noted that Ashton paid 80 per cent towards a house worth £1.4m, while Wray and another director paid 20 per cent towards the property.The suggestion was that this was a benefit and equivalent to salary in kind. I’ve not read the judgement but if that’s what they deem appropriate, then that’s the way it is. Everyone knows before you kick a ball what you’re allowed to do.“I think it upholds the integrity of what we do as a sport. "Saracens had called for the report to be made public after Premiership Rugby initially said that the club had requested it be kept under wraps. The full fine totals £5,360,272.31.
The full fine totals £5,360,272.31.The salary cap now stands at £7m plus two marquee players, with a number of other allowances made for homegrown and English-qualified players. The deal is believed to be worth just over £750,000 every season, with a total of £3.75m over the five years of the contract.
Richard Wrigglesworth, 36, has played for Saracens since 2010, and was given £220,000, while Maro Itoje was given £250,000.In the case of the Vunipolas, a house was bought by a company known as Vuniprop, funded 66 per cent by Vunipolas and 33 per cent by an interest-free loan by Wray.
This is likely to prove just the beginning of another messy saga. "We believe that publication of the decision in respect of Saracens' past breaches of the salary cap is an important step towards upholding trust in our enforcement of the regulations and the disciplinary process."
The salary cap has a troubled history, much criticised in the past – and not just by those who believed it had no teeth. ... Will the Club now be forced to sell players to comply with the salary cap? Wray is one of a few Premiership chairmen who have publicly criticised its very existence.An internal crisis meant half the Premiership clubs were accused of abusing the salary cap in 2007. In 2016/17, Saracens overspent by more than £1.1m, in 2017/18 … Saracens Rugby Club is shocked and disappointed by these heavy-handed sanctions and will launch an appeal against all the Disciplinary Panel’s findings.
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