Bath and the Salary Cap

[Which Tyler]

Another weekend, and another set of accusations coming in, I decided to have a look at the clubs competing in the 2024 Premiership semi-finals, to see if there's an obvious, objective difference in the strength/value of the squads.
Cap counts taken from Statbunker, and dated to May 2024. Of course, all players were on contracts signed before May 2024, but backdating things that much was just too much work. If anyone wants those figures, be my guest.
Obviously, this is for last year, but it's easy to track the changes to this year, and worth remembering the the cap increased by £1.5M since last year.

I'll do a Too Long, Didn't Read for the 2nd post.

Northampton's match-day XV had 11 players who had played international rugby, with 144 caps between them, 102 starts. Lawes was their only starter with more than 10 international starts to his name. Lawes also being the only player with 50+ caps.
Northampton's bench had another 4 international players, for 59 caps (38 starts) sitting there – with Sam Matevesi the only one with more than 10 international starts to his name.
Their wider squad also included Callum Braley, who would account for another 15 caps (9 starts), had he been selected.
The entire Northampton squad could count 5 Lions caps – all in the form of Courtney Lawes

Saracens' match-day XV had 13 players who had played international rugby, with 640 caps between them, 473 starts. 11 of those 13 had more than 10 international starts to their names. MVunipola, George, Itoje, BVunipola, Farrell & Daly all with 50+ caps.
Saracens' bench had another 7 international players, for 79 caps (34 starts) sitting there – with Eroni Mawi the only one with more than 10 international starts to his name.
Their wider squad also included Sean Maitland, Alex Goode, Duncan Taylor and Kapeliele Pifeletijr, who would have accounted for another 113 caps (85 starts), had they been selected. Maitland would be another 50+ cap player.
The entire Saracens squad could count 30 Lions caps – between 6 players.

Bath's match-day XV had 12 players who had played international rugby, with 237 caps between them, 161 starts. 5 of those with more than 10 international starts. Russell the only player with 50+ caps.
Bath's bench had another 3 international players, for 40 caps (11 starts) sitting there – with Will Stuart accounting for almost all of that.
Their wider squad also included Hame Faiva who would have accounted for another 10 caps (3 starts) had he been selected.
The entire Bath squad could count 1 Lions cap – for Finn Russell.

Sale's match-day XV had 8 players who had played international rugby, with 104 caps between them, 75 starts. George Ford was their only starter with more than 10 international starts to his name. Ford also being the only player with 50+ caps.
Sale's bench had another 4 international players, for 152 caps (108 starts) sitting there – Agustin Creevy and Tom Curry both having more than 10 international starts. Creevy would be another 50+ cap player.
Sale's wider squad also included Jonny Hill, Manu Tuilagi and Telusa Veainu, who would have accounted for another 91 caps (76 starts), had they been selected. Manu would be another 50+ cap player.
The entire Sale squad could count 4 Lions caps – for TCurry and Tuilagi.

[Which Tyler]

TL,DR

Northampton:
1 Lion for 5 caps
16 internationals for 218 caps
1 with 50+ caps
5 with 10-49 caps
Saracens:
6 Lions for 30 caps
24 internationals for 832 caps
7 with 50+ caps
13 with 10-49 caps
Bath:
1 Lion for 1 cap
16 internationals for 287 caps
1 with 50+ caps
9 with 10-49 caps
Sale:
2 Lions for 4 caps
15 internationals for 363 caps
3 with 50+ caps
4 with 10-49 caps

Further thoughts, specifically on Bath:
It's worth noting that, whilst TNT keep referring to Du Toit as "the best prop in the world" he's somehow 3rd-ish choice for South Africa; and at the time of his signing, had 9 caps for 2 starts, aged 27, and wasn't selected for the RWC23. Out of interest, as he's known as a try-scoring prop, he's gone from scoring 12 tries in 130-odd appearances at all levels, to 22 tries in 60-odd since moving to Bath.

At the moment, "Bath are cheating the salary cap" is sour grapes, and doesn't pass the sniff test - especially when so many teams are claiming that they AREN'T spending up to the cap (Newcastle, Bristol, Exeter, Gloucester off the top of my head, Tigers and Saints both with weaker squads than last year, despite the increased cap).

At the moment, "Bath will be cheating the salary cap next year" is a valid concern - because they've announced 4 arrivals, and only 2 (mid-season) departures, and are assumed (and claimed) to be up to the cap this year.

The big test that I can see, will be next summer, when Du Toit and Russell's contracts are up - as are Sam Underhill and Will Stuart.
Du Toit will go from being a fringe international to possibly South Africa's 2nd choice, and genuinely the best prop in the Premiership, deserving a huge pay rise. Russell will have gone from 1 Lions cap to probably 3-4 (but marquee to marquee). Will Stuart will have gone from England's 3rd choice to England's 1st choice and deserving a huge pay rise. Carreras will have arrived (rumoured approximately £450k)

[fivepointer]

Number of players in each squad?

[Epaminondas Pules]

While I don’t think Bath are cheating, number of caps isn’t really a good benchmark. Mike Brown, as an example, has 72 caps but will not be on much of a salary as a squad filling 39 year old.

[Which Tyler]

Number of players in each squad?

Hard to tell so feel free to look into it.
Some clubs include the senior academy in with their senior squad. Different clubs count "senior academy" at different points to others (some do, so don't include U18s).

While I don’t think Bath are cheating, number of caps isn’t really a good benchmark. Mike Brown, as an example, has 72 caps but will not be on much of a salary as a squad filling 39 year old.

Of course, but it is the best available.
And Mike Brown will still be leveraging those 72 caps when negotiating a contract. And he'll rightly be on a larger salary than an uncapped squad filling 39 year old fullback.

You'll also notice I name checked anyone with significant international experience.

[FKAS]

I don't see Bath's squad this season as being outrageously stacked like the Sarries one used to be. There seems to be plenty of young academy products providing depth and average squad players, it's not like it's wall to wall internationals.

Next season looks more complicated with them needing to find room in the cap for Santi Carreras. I understand why they've made that move though as it provides potential cover should Finn Russell opt to move elsewhere as well improving the side even if he doesn't. The cap rumours increased after Lahiff let it slip he's heard rumours of certain high profile players Bath are trying to move on to make cap space. Given the number of 10/15s and centres they've got knocking around then losing a couple of those wouldn't inconvenience them and probably get the job done.

[twitchy]

Bath have always spent big they are just doing it effectively for once.

[Puja]

It's worth noting that, whilst TNT keep referring to Du Toit as "the best prop in the world" he's somehow 3rd-ish choice for South Africa; and at the time of his signing, had 9 caps for 2 starts, aged 27, and wasn't selected for the RWC23. Out of interest, as he's known as a try-scoring prop, he's gone from scoring 12 tries in 130-odd appearances at all levels, to 22 tries in 60-odd since moving to Bath.

I do remember mocking Bath when they announced signing "RWC winner Thomas du Toit!!!" and noting that the release was presenting it so you'd make the assumption he was a member of the 2023 Springboks, rather than having got a medal in 2019 from making one start and one sub appearance in group game against Namibia and Canada.

Turns out he was a fairly decent signing in the end.

Can't see Bath fighting to keep him, not with Griffin and Sela in the squad as well. They'll re-sign Stuart and use the EPS money to bolster it.

Puja