Saracens are set for an immediate Gallagher Premiership return next year even if they can't earn it on pitch, according to the Mail Online.
The men in black were fined £5.4m and relegated from the top flight following persistent salary cap breaches.
Premiership Rugby introduced the salary cap in 1999 to ensure the financial viability of all clubs and the competition.
However, Mark McCall's men could now return without playing a game in the second-tier.
The RFU have remained adamant that the Championship will go ahead in January, but without a government bailout it's unlikely that clubs could afford testing to restart safely.
Chris Foy has reported that 'Contingency planning is taking place amid growing fears that the 2020-21 season of the Championship – the second tier of English domestic rugby – may not go ahead.'
EDITORS PICKS:
- Prime Video pundits for 2020 Autumn Nations Cup
- Owen Farrell Names His Toughest Ever Opponent
- Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Davies selects his all-time Lions XV
- Sean Fitzpatrick Selects His All-Time XV
The report added: 'It is understood that up to half the clubs in the Championship would prefer to be moth-balled until the scheduled start of the 2021-22 season next September, to allow them to release players, slash costs and avoid savage losses for staging fixtures without crowds.'
As a result, one of the plans now being discussed for 2021/22 is a 14-team Premiership, with Ealing Trailfinders potentially being given a chance to also play in the top flight for the first time in the clubs history.
JOIN THE RUCK:
REVEALED | Best Paid XV, Replacements & Head Coach in World Rugby
The highest earning rugby players XV, replacements and head coach from all over the world is as follows...
BACK-THREE
Fullback: Beauden Barrett (Suntory Goliath) - £780,000
In July, he agreed a multi-million dollar move to Suntory Sungoliath as the exodus of players to Japan continues.
Wing: Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) – £550,000
The Scotland fullback was the highest paid player at Glasgow Warriors (£350,000) but added another healthy chunk to his pay-packet by joining the Premiership side after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Winger: Charles Piutau (Bristol Bears) – £1m
The former All Black full-back or wing, who surprised many by leaving New Zealand before reaching the peak of his powers, becoming British rugby’s first million pound man when he moved to Ashton Gate in 2018.
CENTRES
Outside-centre: Semi Radradra (Bristol Bears) – £750,000
Reportedly signed a £1.5m two-year deal with the Bears, which works out at £750,000 per season.
Inside-centre: Owen Farrell (Saracens) – £750,000
He a points-machine with England and Saracens, and the outside-half or inside-centre is one of England’s best paid players.
HALF-BACKS
Fly-half: Handre Pollard (Montpellier) – £1m
The Springbok reportedly tripled his salary when he departed the Bulls to join Top 14 side Montpellier in 2019.
Scrum-half: Morgan Parra (Clermont) – £560,000
The France scrum-half, despite falling out of international contention, still has a huge contract that he signed three years ago. The deal is set to expire in 2021
FRONT-ROW
Loosehead-prop: Mako Vunipola (Saracens) – £450,000
Props are the worst paid position, but, for now anyway, Mako still earns decent money from Saracens. It’s thought the relentless scrummager is one of the players they want to hang onto despite their relegation.
Hooker: Guilhem Guirado (Montpellier) – £500,000
The former France captain may be passed his best but is still earning good money on his contract with Montpellier.
Tighthead-prop: Tadhg Furlong (Leinster) – £480,000
The Ireland and Lions juggernaut will be replaced in this team by Kyle Sinckler when the England powerhouse joins Bristol on a huge contract in the summer, but for now keeps his place.
SECOND-ROW
Lock: Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) - £1m
Lock: Maro Itoje (Saracens) – £800,000
According to RugbyPass his salary is somewhere in the region of £750,000 to £1 million – making him England’s highest paid player.
BACK-ROW
Blindside-flanker: Steve Luatua (Bristol Bears) – £650,000
Didn’t make any friends within the All Blacks hierarchy when he decided to cash in on his extreme rugby talent, signing for Bristol. Has since signed a contract extension.
Openside-flanker: Michael Hooper (Toyota Verblitz) - £750,000
The Wallabies captain accepted a shock move to Japan to play with Toyota Verblitz, which saw the back-rower increase his salary from around £500k to £750k..
Number 8: Sergio Parisse (Toulon) – £500,000
The veteran continues to be the highest -paid number 8 after signing another one-year extension with Toulon.
HEAD COACH
Pat Lam (Bristol Bears) - £800,000
The former Newcastle, Northampton and Samoa back-row will remain at Ashton Gate until at least 2023 after signing a bumper contract extension in 2019. The 50-year-old, as a result, became the highest paid rugby boss in the world.
REPLACEMENTS:
- Mako Vunipola (Saracens) - £420,000
- Dane Coles (Hurricanes) - £500,000
- Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears) - £400,000
- Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks) - £500,000
- Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) - £450,000
- Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby) – £475,000
- Nicolas Sanchez (Montpellier) - £580,000
- Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) – £450,000
