Saracens review salary cap penalty amid conflict of interest claims
Saracens are assessing their position regarding the 2019 salary cap scandal following allegations of an undisclosed conflict of interest involving the disciplinary process auditors.
The north London club were relegated to the Championship and fined £5.36m after a disciplinary panel found they had breached spending limits across three seasons.
New reports allege that an accounting firm advising Premiership Rugby (PRL) on the case was simultaneously acting as the auditor for Sale Sharks.
The alleged conflict
According to reports in The Telegraph, Saffery Champness provided "impartial expert advice" regarding Saracens’ financial breaches.
It is alleged this occurred while the firm was working for Sale, a rival Premiership side that stood to benefit financially from sanctions against Saracens.
Sale Sharks reportedly received more than £350,000 as their share of the fine paid by the disgraced champions.
The advice provided by the firm specifically related to the valuation of Maro Itoje’s image rights and the contract of former winger Chris Ashton.
There is currently no suggestion of deliberate wrongdoing by Saffery Champness.
Saracens respond
The StoneX Stadium outfit issued a statement confirming they are looking into the matter closely.
"The allegation has been made that Saffery Champness had a conflict of interest in this matter due to providing ‘independent’ expert advice to PRL on seven out of the nine charges.
"[This occurred] at the same time as being a service provider to other parties, who benefited financially from the outcome of the panel’s determinations."
The club claims these potential conflicts were disclosed neither to the independent panel nor to Saracens themselves during the proceedings.
"The club will consider its position once those affected by this allegation have had an opportunity to respond."
A dominant era ended
Before the scandal broke following the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the club had established themselves as the dominant force in English rugby.
They had secured the Premiership title in four of the previous five seasons before their enforced relegation.
When approached for comment regarding the latest allegations, a Premiership Rugby spokesperson remained tight-lipped.
"PREM Rugby is unable to comment on matters of a confidential nature."