Sarries appealing salary cap punishment

Saracens chairman Nigel Wray has confirmed the Premiership club will appeal their punishment for an alleged breach of salary cap rules. The reigning Premiership champions were handed a 35-point deduction and a £5.36m fine for allegedly breaching salary cap regulations over three seasons. Sarries were moved down to the bottom of the table but have now been restored to fourth spot and had their financial punishment suspended until the conclusion of the appeal. Wray revealed his shock about Tuesday’s events and says the club will now go through the appeals process to clear their name. “This is absolutely devastating for everyone associated with this amazing group of players, staff, partners and fans,” Wray said in a statement on the club’s official website. “It’s been acknowledged by the panel that we never deliberately sought to mislead anyone or breach the cap. “That’s why it feels like the rug is being completely pulled out from under our feet. We will appeal [against] all the findings.”