Northampton up to but NOT over salary cap

Northampton have become the latest club to  come out and say they were not one of the clubs who agreed settlements with Premiership Rugby over salary cap disagreements.
Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton, chief executive Allan Robson said Saints paid “up to the maximum of the cap but not beyond.”
“I think some of the clubs, count me in, have had an anger about the whole episode,” Robson said.
“Clearly there have been two clubs that have had settlements because of disagreements as opposed to proven breaches.
“One of the main objectives of the salary cap was an equal playing field so that 12 clubs could go out on the pitch fairly, much similar in the quality of their playing departments and that would make life very competitive out on the pitch.
“When you believe that some clubs have not complied with the salary cap regulations and you’re one that has, it can make you angry to think ‘have we just lost a game and was it on an even footing?’.”
This takes the number to eight clubs who followed in Wasps‘ footsteps by making their position public.
Harlequins are yet to release statement but director of rugby Conor O’Shea said in an interview yesterday that his club had not been under investigations.
With Gloucester, London Irish, Exeter, Newcastle, Sale and Worcester also taking stand it leaves only Leicester, Saracens and Bath as the three clubs yet to come public about their situation.
Last month, Northampton lock and players’ union boss Christian Day called for the salary cap cheats to be named and shamed.
He told TRP: “If we’re going to play to a salary cap, I want, 100 per cent, that to be investigated and I want the investigation to be known to the players.
“We want a level playing field and it’s not fair if one, two, three or four clubs are breaking the rules to the ones that aren’t. The salary cap is there for a reason – it keeps the game competitive and ensures financial stability.”