Esportif Int'l confirmed a merger with Big Red Management, "with the new company
representing more international players in the current Six Nations
squads than any other agency," according to Gavin Mairs of the London TELEGRAPH. The newly-created agency warned that the Aviva Premiership is in danger of being "left behind" if the current salary cap is retained. Esportif Managing Dir Duncan Sandlant said that "the merger reflected the increasing globalisation of the professional game." But he warned that "it would become increasingly difficult for England’s top clubs to compete with the French, Japanese and Celtic leagues if the current salary restrictions remained in place although the increase on the salary cap and change in marque player ruling had helped decrease the gap." The salary cap is due to rise to £5.5M ($8.2M) next season with the allowance of two marquee players, but it is dwarfed by the £8.6M ($12.8M) "which clubs can spend in France’s Top 14 competition." Sandlant said, "The game is becoming significantly more global and English clubs, in the last 12 months particularly, are now looking at world class players from New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Europe which is great for the Aviva Premiership." Any changes to the salary cap would require a 75% majority of Premiership Rugby shareholders, "who are currently in advanced discussions about expanding the top flight to 14 clubs and scrapping relegation from 2016" (TELEGRAPH, 3/11).
