Detailed report reveals 5 clubs spent under PREM Rugby salary cap

All 10 Gallagher PREM Rugby clubs were found to be compliant with the league’s salary cap for 2024-25, which increased from £5m to £6.4m.

Bristol, Exeter, Gloucester, Newcastle and Northampton all spent under the salary cap allowance in terms of players within cap and notwithstanding additional credits, but there was a 6% overall increase in club spend to £7m.

Champions Bath spent the most on academy wages, with nearly a million pounds dedicated towards the next generation of first-team players, while Harlequins were a close second.

With the £1.4m change in the PREM salary cap, there was a 10% hike in average senior player income to £165,181, with fly-halves still the most highly valued players.

PREM playmakers earned on average £259,602 – almost double that received by wingers, who have become hugely important, not only in the try-scoring stakes but also in aerial battles, without their worth being reflected in hard cash.

Nine ‘marquee’ players were excluded from the cap at the request of clubs, with their average salary coming in at £533,000, while the peak earning years were found to be between the ages of 29 and 31.

In a bid to streamline playing operations, there was a small decrease in the average size of senior/academy squads from 73 players to 69.

In his introduction to the comprehensive 58-page report, Andrew Rogers, Salary Cap Director, PREM Rugby, said: “This report provides insights into overall club salary spends, how the Salary Cap is managed across the Gallagher PREM and examines in detail the player market data.

“Following the inaugural report, we can now provide further insights with comparison data across five seasons (2020-21 through to 2024-25). Furthermore, since the introduction of the Extended Audit, and in addition to the normal audits for all clubs, we have undertaken a full forensic audit on the last five champion clubs for the last five seasons.

“The 2024-25 season saw the Salary Cap return to £6.4m (increasing from £5m for the last three seasons), and with this change, there was an increase in average Senior Player income of 10% to £165,181, which was above the pre-Covid average Senior Player income value.

“This is reflected in the overall increase in Cash Spend across the Clubs of 6%, to £7.0m. To further enhance the transparency on the Salary Cap, this report now includes the Club breakdown of Cash and Salary Cap spend on their Senior and Academy squads.

“The overall (Senior and Academy) average squad sizes decreased from 73 to 69. This change occurred with a reduction in the average Senior Salary Cap squad from 43 to 42, and a decrease in the Academy Salary Cap from 30 to 27.

“Almost all positions saw an increase in Senior Player income from 2023-24. Fly-Half remains the highest-paid position with an average (mean) income of £259,602 (up from £231,182 in 2023-24). Wing was the lowest paid position, with an average income of £132,303, (up from £120,490 in 2023-24). Scrum-Half which was previously the lowest paid position is now 4th and saw a 31% increase.

“Players with more than 50 Test caps still deliver the highest income levels, although the biggest change in average income was seen for players with 6-10 caps (an increase of 41%). The average income of players with more than 50 Test caps has decreased to £342,633 (£339,711 in 2023-24).

“The average Academy Player income also increased by 8% (from £18,341 in 2023-24 to £19,851). It is expected that this will continue to rise following the agreement to introduce of the Academy Player Fixed Wage (introduced in 2025-26) providing first full-time contract Rookie 1 (Under 19 Age Group) and Rookie 2 (Under 20 Age Group) Players with financial security as they begin their professional development.”