Par
Jeremy Marty
Published on
Dec 17 2024 at 4:23 p.m.
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The salary cap is likely to be talked about in the coming days. From Tuesday December 17 to Wednesday December 18, the presidents of the French clubs are gathered in Lyon to discuss this divisive subject during the Financial General Assembly of the National Rugby League.
As a reminder, in Top 14, the salary framework is set at 10.7 million euros. However, the LNR has implemented a “blue credit” which grants an excess of the salary cap of 180,000 euros for each international registered on the premium list of the French XV.
Toulouse, La Rochelle and Bordeaux well ahead
Obviously, this blue credit brings in much more for the big teams in the Top 14 as shown by an infographic published in the columns of Sud Ouest. Number one supplier of the French XV with 12 internationals, Stade Toulousain is the one which benefits the most from this measure with 2.4 million de budget a plus.
In second position, we find Stade Rochelais which collects 1.26 million euros thanks to its 7 players checked on the Blues’ premium list. Bordeaux-Bègles completes the podium with six Marcoussis regulars and an additional budget of 1.08 million euros.
Toulon, Lyon, and Montpellier are compensated to the tune of 720,000 euros for four selected players while Racing 92 and Stade Français collect 540,000 euros for three players. The last clubs to benefit from this blue credit, Castres, Pau and Perpignan receive 180,000 euros. Without internationals, Bayonne, Clermont and Vannes do not benefit from this measure.
Between logic and inequality?
At first glance, this blue credit seems to increase the gap between the big teams and the more modest clubs. But there is also a logic to compensating the teams who send a good part of their backbone several times during the season to the ranks of the XV of France.
As for the salary cap, the fact that everyone has the same ceiling should normally guarantee a minimum of fairness. Lowering it, increasing it or even staggering it would necessarily lead to debates depending on the financial and sporting situations specific to each club. One thing is certain, the discussions promise to be dense between the different parties.
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