Wage Cap Cheats Have Been Able To Prosper
The anticipation for what lies ahead is both exciting and daunting as the usual Christmas hype engulfs us all. It happens every year, we have the excitement of Europe in the run-up to Christmas and some crucial crunch matches in the Premiership just before the big day itself.
This week, although only halfway through the season, could hold the answer to how the Premiership will look at the end of the season.
The clash between the two teams we expect to be at the sharp end of the battle to survive – Worcester and Irish – is always an exciting, if somewhat desperate game to watch. Dealing with Friday night’s result makes the rest of the season a mental struggle for both sets of players, knowing any slipup could decide if they are to remain as Premiership players or possibly have to find a new club or career.
For Worcester survival is a must if they are to find a new owner who can afford to take them forward out of the yearly yoyo zone that is the bottom of the Premiership and so their 23-8 triumph over Irish was huge.
Sadly, for some clubs in the Premiership, the constant battle for survival dominates the entire fabric of the club with seasons being planned on how to survive rather than going for glory.
I say sadly but, in truth, it is the collective fault of the Premiership who have failed to ensure that the wage cap has been enforced.
This story is from the December 24, 2017 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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This story is from the December 24, 2017 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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