Premiership Rugby’s decision to increase their salary cap for a second season in succession has received a mixed response, but clubs should be aware that engaging in an arms race with France and Japan is no guarantee of success.
Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea is one high profile figure who believes the extra £500,000 (Dh3m) and additional marquee signing are needed in order to bridge that gap.
Bath are believed to have already sounded out Australian scrum-half Will Genia, and it may not be long until rugby union has its first £1 million (Dh6m) player. Seeing the Wallaby No9 orchestrating a back division that already includes George Ford, and is awaiting the arrival of Sam Brugess, would undoubtedly get pulses racing.
The club would in turn expect to see an increase in attendances but at a time when record crowds are already streaming into Premiership grounds, is it a step that is really needed?
Aside from the new marquee player rule that will allow a club to sign an additional player outside of the cap, as long as they are new to the league or have been absent for more than 12 months, the figures still lag well behind France.
The basic cap in England will be raised from £5m (Dh30m) to £5.5m for the start of next season, two years after French Top 14 clubs saw their allowance hit €10m (Dh47.6m). In pure economic terms then, English clubs will still have a battle on their hands to compete with their cousins across the channel.
Of course, being able to sign two players outside of that cap will give Premiership clubs a chance to sign the likes of Genia, and even Steffon Armitage.
Yet, that fact makes a mockery of the claim that these changes are intended to keep as many English-qualified players from heading abroad.
It is an issue dear to England head coach Stuart Lancaster’s heart, and was cited as a primary reason for the continued absence of Armitage from his squad. But the real reason England can continue to overlook a player of the Toulon No8’s quality, is the competition for places that currently exists between English players at English clubs.
The key performers in the important positions at most clubs at the present moment are homegrown, giving the national team an abundance of potentially gifted players.
It has also led to a more competitive league, with at least eight teams, if not more, harbouring ambitions of playing in the end-of-season play-offs.
In the first two weeks alone, Wasps have hinted at a resurgence, narrowly losing to Saracens before beating champions Northampton, while Exeter have put 50 points on London Welsh and pushed Leicester remarkably close. In turn, stadiums have been full and at the moment at least, the Premiership does not appear to be a tournament on life support.
It should be wary not to jeopardise that success with a vain chase to catch up with the Joneses in France and Japan.
