Is the prem salary cap stopping English teams from success in Europe? – Tom Spendiff (Yr 7)
Last year’s Champions cup final had a familiar look to it as Toulouse took on Leinster. French teams have provided the last four winner’s and a total of 11 finalists in the last ten seasons. So why have the French Clubs and Leinster (with 5 appearances) been so successful compared to English clubs (without an appearance since the 2019/20 season). Is the failure of English clubs due to a lack of skill or effort? Or is it there something more? It is perhaps no coincidence that in the last ten years, especially since covid, French teams and Leinster significantly outspent their English counterparts. This is evident as France’s salary cap has been up to £5,000,000 higher than the English’s salary cap and it is rumoured that the Leinster’s is even higher at €18m in the 2021/22 season.
In the last four seasons, the finals have been mostly French teams, but what about the champions? The champions have been all French as La Rochelle and Toulouse have won two each in the last four seasons.
The English Premiership spending cap was introduced in 1999 after two clubs Richmond and London Scottish went bust. However after annual increases to the cap for the next twenty years the cap then went into reverse, then the cap was then reduced following covid as three more clubs Worcester, Wasps and London Irish went bust.
Will the cap ever be removed? Sadly the answer is looking as a no until a lot more money finds it’s way to the league.
In conclusion it is looking like the Champions cup’s winners will not be English for a large amount of time until a new investor with enough money to invest finds their way to the league. Until then Vive la France!
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