the essential
The question of the salary cap and its possible reduction were at the heart of the debates on Tuesday in Lyon when all the presidents of French clubs gathered. Didier Lacroix and Pierre-Yves Revol, respectively president of Stade Toulousain and Castres Olympique, were not there for personal reasons, and expressed themselves via a letter.
Absent from the major meeting of the professional presidents of Top 14 and Pro D2 yesterday in Lyon, Didier Lacroix sent a letter before this meeting intended for all of his counterparts in which he responded in particular to Pierre-Yves Revol. The man at the head of Castres Olympique had, like Didier Lacroix, written a long letter due to his absence, which La Dépêche du Midi was able to consult.
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The latter had judged that clubs “in a balanced economic situation will be less inclined to review the current balances” and had wondered “why reduce (s) one’s potential” when it found itself “in the capacity to assume” its budget. “It is just appropriate to stipulate in this regard that if 9 or 10 clubs are at the ceiling of the salary cap any possible reduction should not significantly modify the current balance of competition” he added.
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“I note that this point was taken into account by Pierre Yves, his conclusion is as obvious as it is scathing: there is no modification of the balances, so we are allowing a drop in payrolls (and therefore salaries) in the face of a club economy CQFD” writes Didier Lacroix in response in his note.
About internationals
“Some may be inclined to use the vector of the international salary cap credit to limit the differentials between clubs. For my part I will do it sparingly with perhaps the establishment of an overall ceiling in this respect” announced the Castres president . To which his Toulouse counterpart wishes to bounce back: “I am obviously and in all subjectivity, up against any cap, except to cap the number of players selected by the EDF (and moreover in the same position), which will give you we all know is impossible” replied Didier Lacroix.
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Before continuing: “Sportingly, the observation is even worse: the lower the number of players selected, the easier it is to replace the player(s) concerned, but when the number is greater than 5, what am I saying: 7, 8… see 11 this year, it’s a real numerical problem in the squad.” And to summarize: “We can cap the credits, if we cap the number of internationals or if we overhaul the calendars and/or we call into question the number of matches of the year to only play with the internationals and therefore calling into question the 14 of the famous TOP 14…”
A salary cap in Pro D2?
Pierre-Yves Revol also mentioned wondering “about the advisability of introducing a salary cap in PRO D2”. “I leave it to the clubs concerned to debate this subject. It can have virtues but also a major disadvantage which does not exist in the TOP 14: that of complicating the preparation for accession to the TOP 14 of the clubs which aspire to it and believe have the means” he judged. “No better on the subject, even as a joke, even in writing and from a distance, I will say on this point only “as he said” and a big thank you to Pierre Yves, because obviously I wrote my note and my comments on an existing basis” concludes the president of Stade Toulousain.
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According to information from L’Équipe about this meeting organized in Lyon, no major decision was adopted by the leaders. The latter would have even planned a new gathering at the beginning of 2025 in order to discuss the period 2027-2032 and in particular international credits. Because, until this deadline of 2027, it would seem too complicated to change the rules of the Salary Cap, which is currently 10.7 million euros.
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On this subject, here is what Didier Lacroix wrote in his note: “Between 2020 and 2023, the average salary increased in France by 16% (source Insee). This year, forecasts show an average increase of around 2.5% If our Salary Cap was indexed to salary inflation (which does not seem illogical to me at all!) we should have a SC for the 24/25 financial year of 11.3 M€ X 1.16
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