In an exclusive extract from his new book, Robert Kitson reveals the true anger and dismay from Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter at the salary cap breaches by their arch rivals Saracens.
“Everyone thought there was something wrong for a number of years," revealed Baxter.
"But that’s different to it being blatantly exposed. I don’t care what anybody says, it’s not been exposed as a little bit of an accident.
“Even the little bit they found, percentage-wise, makes an incredible difference within your squad. You’re never really needing to lose a player because you can spread the money around and keep everyone happy. People look at it and say: ‘That’s only four or five players.’ It’s not. Not at all. It means you can keep your players on a wage level where it’s not worth them moving to another club.
“I’m not saying Saracens don’t do a lot of things well. They’re well coached and they get the importance of building a good team environment and having a good culture. But on top of that they get to do it with 30 better players than any other squad can put together.
"That’s the bit that has bugged me more than anything else. When I actually found out how deliberately it had been done and for how long … even then there was no apology, not even a hint of one.”
Exe Men: The Extraordinary Rise of Exeter Chiefs by Robert Kitson is
published by Polaris on 26 November
UPDATED | The full list of who’s leaving Saracens and where they’re going…
Here’s our full list of confirmed departures at Saracens following their relegation to the Championship..
Despite losing a number of stars, Sarries have confirmed that England internationals Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, Jamie George, Maro Itoje and Billy and Mako Vunipola have all signed new deals.
CONFIRMED SARACENS LEAVERS
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Joe Gray of Saracens celebrates after winning with Brad Barritt
Liam Williams (Scarlets)
The blockbusting counter-attacker was due to rejoin the Welsh region at the end of the season but that has been brought forward.
Matt Gallagher (Munster)
The Irish-qualified full-back, 23, joined Munster in July h having had his first taste of Thomond Park in a Champions Cup pool defeat to Johan van Graan’s side on December 7.
Ben Earl (Bristol Bears - loan)
Jack Singleton (Gloucester Rugby - loan)
Max Malins (Bristol Bears - loan)
Will Skelton (La Rochelle)
Skelton helped Sarries to a domestic and European double in 2018 when he was also named players’ player of the year. Following his initial short-term move in December 2016, he made the switch to North London permanent ahead of the following season.
Titi Lamositele (Montpellier)
Nick Isiekwe (Northampton Saints - loan)
Departing on loan after signing a new deal with Sarries, Isiekwe arrived after making over 50 Premiership appearances as well as two Premiership and one Champions Cup winners medals.
Richard Wigglesworth (released)
Ben Spencer (Bath)
The England scrum-half is leaving relegated Saracens after almost a decade of service and has signed a three-year deal at the Recreation Ground.
Nick Tompkins (Dragons - loan)
The 25-year-old Wales international revealed he held talks with all four Welsh regions but chose to join Dragons on a season-long loan as they were the most "exciting" option.
Brad Barritt (retired)
Barritt has quite simply played an incredible part in the club’s journey over the past 12 years. A cornerstone of the Saracens defence for so long, the longevity and consistency of his performances – all 257 of them so far – can only be admired.
Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues)
The 22-year-old arrived in north London after appearing at the Rugby World Cup in Japan and made his Sarries debut in the Champions Cup away to Racing 92. However, the prop returned to Wales as he looks to push for further international honours.
Alex Goode (NEC Green Rockets)
The fullback has signed a new contract with Saracens which will see the fullback continue at Allianz Park until 2023. The deal means the 32-year-old will spend almost 20 years with the club, whose academy side he joined before going on to appear for the first team in 2008. One jersey he will be wearing at the end of the current campaign is that of Japan’s NEC Green Rockets, who he has been loaned to until the end of May.
Tobias Munday (released)
Viliami Hakalo (retired)
Alex Lozowski (Montpellier - loan)
Juan Figallo (released)
George Kruis (Panasonic Wild Knights)
The England lock will end his 11-year association with Saracens in November and move to Japan after signing for Panasonic Wild Knights. Following Sarries relegation, Kruis decided it was the right time to make a move he had been mulling over for two years.
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
Loading