Premiership clubs distance themselves from salary cap row

Mark McCafferty said their have been no Premiership salary cap breaches

Four more English Premiership clubs revealed that they were not investigated for potential breaches of the salary cap.

With Exeter, London Irish and Northampton clarifying their positions, there are now nine teams insisting they are not subject to scrutiny over possible infringements.

Wasps, Sale, Worcester, Newcastle, Harlequins and Gloucester have also denied any involvement in governing body Premiership Rugby’s investigations.

Saracens, Bath, and Leicester are the remaining clubs yet to comment on the issue.

Premiership Rugby insists there were no salary cap breaches last term, but admits agreeing “settlements” with an unspecified number of the league’s 12 clubs.

They have refused to be drawn into specifics on which sides agreed settlements and how many, citing confidentiality agreements.

Exeter head coach Rob Baxter said: “I don’t need to say we are one of the teams that have breached the salary cap because everyone knows we are not.”

A London Irish statement read: “London Irish can confirm it was not subjected to recent PRL salary cap investigations. The club fully supports and has adhered to the salary cap regulations since its inception and will continue to do so.”