Wednesday 17 September 2014 17:59, UK
The Aviva Premiership salary cap will be increased from next season, league chiefs have confirmed.
From 2015-16 onwards, the base salary cap level will rise by £100,000 to £5.1million, plus £400,000 in home-grown player credits.
In addition, each Premiership club will be able to nominate up to two ‘excluded players’ whose salary is not included in the capped amount.
At present, clubs can name a sole ‘marquee player’, whose wages are exempt from salary constraints.
But this can now be complimented with the addition of a second player, so long as he is new to Premiership rugby next term and has not featured in the competition for at least 12 months.
"The level of the salary cap is linked to central revenues which have increased significantly in recent years,” said Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty.
"This increase in central revenues has allowed us to increase the salary cap and further help our clubs compete in both the new European Rugby Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup."
The home-grown player credits apply to players who joined a club academy before their 18th birthday and have been with the club for more than two years.
"We are delighted to confirm the number of England-qualified players in Aviva Premiership rugby has passed 70 per cent for the first time, and we want to drive the numbers even higher.
"The increase in the base level of the salary cap will help our clubs to retain English talent.
"Also, the introduction of home-grown player credits helps the enviable production line that has been established from our academies to our Premiership squads and on to England.
"England and their clubs are getting stronger because of our commitment to the development of world-class England players in Aviva Premiership rugby. It is an essential part of our league and the strength of our system."
