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This is a big question. I'm not sure about 'clearly in on it' - it doesn't sound like they were extravagantly over the cap (i.e. you read numbers like £500k or so, which is only 1/14 of the cap) so they might have assumed they were close but not over. The big question - and the massive frustration about the current non-publication of the report into this - is how the 'co-investments' worked with the chairman and what the players were told about these. If they were assured that this creative accounting was outwith the salary cap then it may be reasonable that the players are, at worst, guilty of a selective deafness to the issue and shouldn't be burnt at the stake. I mean, they must have looked around their changing room and wondered how they had SUCH a stronger squad than everyone else, but then when such a high proportion came through their development routes maybe that's not such a hard story to sell yourself.
Whilst it doesn't justify their 'cheating', lots of rumours going around now that other clubs will currently be sitting very uncomfortably re their own salary cap compliance and creative accounting...
owl-
Agree re: other clubs
I've heard Farrell on 750k and if on that basis you may say Maro, BV, MV, DALY, WILLIAMS, GEORGE and KRUIS AVE 500k you're that leaves only about 2.8m for another 25 players including other British lions and established international players. Of course, we don't know exact figures so it's all its/buts/maybes but it's more about the players surely wondering why 'this' number is your salary and 'this' is a company we've set up (which is just a name MANUPROP, WIGGY9 etc etc) that you're now the owner of and will have 200k deposited into it every year - appreciate that agents/advisors surely have a part to play also.
Pasty_Spumante
Also interesting not to see any (to my mind) criticism of the players who were clearly 'in on it' and even if it's not deemed appropriate to criticise the players, I wonder if their association and fact they benefited by going along with it will make them persona non Grata (temporarily at least) within England rugby