Sunday Times reports that news of a pending increased salary cap for the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions comes as huge relief as the game buckles under financial strain.

Given their limited budgets and squad sizes, the country’s franchise coaches who compete in Europe have lamented their inability to compete on three fronts. Their resources are stretched, competing in the Champions Cup, the United Rugby Championship and the Currie Cup. Squad sizes look set to increase from 45 to 53 but the primary reason for raising the salary cap from R67.2m to R85m per annum is rooted in quality, not quantity. Clubs in the Top 14 are also facing the pinch, especially as they struggle to rake in pre-lockdown profits. Increasingly they are offloading star players or offering them significant pay cuts. Though the local cap increase has not officially been announced yet, SA Rugby president Mark Alexander noted: “If there is to be an increase, it will be with the aim of keeping our top players in the country.” Under proposals that have still to be ratified, the salary cap is in for a significant rise. Raising the cap to R85m and increasing the squad number to 53 will be a big deal, but perhaps not as significant as the proposal that each franchise be allowed at least four players who aren’t bound by the constraints of the salary cap. The SA Rugby Employers Organisation (Sareo) arrived at the new numbers with My Players, the players’ representative body that is supposed to sign off on it.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Liam Del Carme at Sunday Times

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