CAs expected, the question of the salary cap was the main subject of the meeting of the 30 presidents of professional rugby clubs organized by the LNR this Tuesday in Lyon. It was just as predictable, he quickly deviated to the question of Toulouse hegemony. If the ceiling of the authorized payroll in the Top 14 – set at €10.70 million for the hour – should not be modified in the short term, the debate has dragged on on the credit of 180,000 euros granted for each international included on the Premium list established by the League’s salary cap manager, Samuel Gauthier, at the start of each season.
A system which primarily benefits Stade Toulousain, winner of four of the five Brennus put into play since 2019, which counts 12 members of this famous list in its ranks. Far ahead of Stade Rochelais (7) or UBB (6).
Counterpart offered to the people of Toulouse for their status as the main provider of internationals for the French a credit of 400,000 euros. The addition is not neutral, it authorizes the reigning French champion a payroll of almost 13 million euros in the end.
It is this competitive advantage that the presidents of the Top 14 seem determined to attack. Carried out in the absence of Didier Lacroix, the president of Stade Toulousain, the discussions led to a proposal: capping the number of international credits at 6. A stone in the garden of the Dupont generation.
Electoral issue?
The supporters of such an evolution are based on an observation which is self-evident, but supported by the annual report of the Salary Cap drawn up by Nexia, to which “Sud Ouest” was able to have access: the performance of a club is a function of its payroll compared to that of its competitor. When a home club has a payroll €3 million lower than that of the visitor, it has a 50% chance of winning. Corollary, when the host has a payroll €3 million higher than that of the visitor, he has almost a 90% chance of winning. QED. In other words, they say they fear that Toulouse domination will damage the product.
According to “Midi Olympique”, Didier Lacroix responded to this “attack” by suggesting that the number of internationals be capped per club. A way of reminding us that what is presented as an advantage is only compensation for the regular deductions made by the XV of France from its workforce.
The question should not be submitted to the LNR steering committee this Wednesday morning in Lyon. “Nothing has been decided, but I think it will pass,” says an actor in the governance of the LNR. The subject was postponed to the next meeting of presidents which should be held in the first half of 2025. A timing which is not neutral: the election for the presidency of the LNR will be held next March at which only René Bouscatel, the outgoing president, has so far declared himself. Could the question weigh on the campaign? This Tuesday, the president of the LNR did not want to take part in the debate.
