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Next week's headline:
"Saracens quit English rugby and join Pro14 in an attempt to test themselves against stiffer opposition"
They'll be nice and rested for Europe so! Bring it on.
I almost feel bad for them, until I remember Nigel Wray is top dog anyway. They're being made an example of for breaching a cap that I reckon is a bit too restrictive and ought to be expanded soon enough. (Although probably not to the extent Sarries broke it at a guess) There's a difference between everyone playing on the the same budget and a cap to ensure competitiveness and I think the prem leans towards the former, which doesn't make sense with a load of privately owned clubs.
Wow
what if they just keep winning europe forever and keep qualifying without playing in a league. Every knockout game could mean the actual death of them.
While I believe that salary caps are anti-competitive, anti-labor, ineffective in creating parity, and only a tool to prevent owners from looking stupid because well rich people have to be smart; Saracens should suffer whatever prescribed punishment is in the by-laws. I have no reason to believe that the salary cap would be an unenforceable provision of a contract (EU anti-competition laws maybe but Brexit means Brexit). Interested to see what the reaction from the players is. Do they stay and win promotion for the club; I could see Faz, George, Itoje, and other lifetime Saracens boys doing that. Or do they go on a year-long loan or just leave the club altogether?
Soooooooo........
What's gonna happen with Farrell, Vunipolas, Daly, Itoje etc.etc.
Take the hit and play in the championship?
Relegation clause?
Loaned to a prem club to keep playing for England?
Loaned to a foreign club to keep their skills up but not be eligible for England?
That said I don't even know if the Championship makes players ineligible - Wilson came to us because Newcastle got relegated but maybe that's because there's plenty of competition in his position and Prem rugby keeps him in selectors eyes.
It's uncharted territory, though - we've only ever had Wilson as a relegated squad member and he jumped shipI don't think England selection would be a reason for them moving, you wouldn't not select Farrell or Itoje knowing they're world class players.
Obviously they have personal goals on winning things so I wouldn't begrudge them leaving.
I don't think they'd be allowed to play from the championship. The change back from the old format to the new has made it fairly clear that the tournament places are allocated to premiership, top14 and pro14 teams rather than English, French etc... Like it used to be.what if they just keep winning europe forever and keep qualifying without playing in a league. Every knockout game could mean the actual death of them.
Unless Wray is secretly running things for the side he's gone already.
Also as a Bath fan it's squeaky bum time as I think we have been dancing near the cap too.
Soooooooo........
What's gonna happen with Farrell, Vunipolas, Daly, Itoje etc.etc.
Meh, along with 7 other clubs who dance right up to, and occassionally beyond the cap. I still don't think we've smashed it at any point (we now have evidence that we weren't under investigation that year when everyone came and said that it wasn't them, so everyone assumed we were - without actually looking at the quality of our squad) - though I fully expect that we've nudged above it at some points, along with most senior teams.Also as a Bath fan it's squeaky bum time as I think we have been dancing near the cap too (although we more tend to just through lots of money at relatively mediocre players).