Wray: 100 jobs to go

By Jason Harris
March 13 2003

Saracens owner Nigel Wray has predicted that up to a hundred Zurich Premiership players could lose their jobs when new salary cap restrictions come into force next season.

Though the current £1.9m ceiling will remain in place, there are far-reaching changes afoot which will mean that players who play international rugby, are employed as coaches or are injured long term must have their salaries included in salary cap equation.

Until now, players in the categories listed above have had their wages offset, enabling clubs to retain more professionalsand associate professionals on their books. But Wray believes that once the new regulations are enforced, a tenth of players could well be shown the door by their clubs.

Quoted in Thursday's Daily Mail Wray said "Players will lose jobs. I'd be surprised if there's not an average reduction in the squads at all 12 clubs of between 10% and 20% minimum. The vast majority of those who remain will be on lower wages."

Saracens, Leicester and Northampton were the only three clubs to oppose the measure which was approved after vote at the RFU earlier in the week.

Leicester coach Dean Richards also spoke out against the change and believes that he will see less incentive for English clubs to devleop young players and that overseas jorneymen will take up more places in Zurich Premiership squads.

Wray concluded "Rugby is a business like everything else, one with a model which cannot work.

"We have a daft season and are in the midst of the silliest part when most clubs have one or two home games in 12 weeks.

"We need to act and not sit doing nothing like rabbits trapped in headlights."