Super League will "step up its efforts to lure rugby union players" following the salary cap increase, after the man who spearheaded the move said that "chances have been missed in signing union players," according to Aaron Bower of the London GUARDIAN. The £1.825M ($2.27M) wage ceiling will "rise incrementally over the next three seasons," reaching £2.1M ($2.61M) by '20. However, it is the dispensations clubs voted through last Wednesday which "may make the biggest change," with clubs granted exemptions from the salary cap to sign "returning players" -- those who left Super League to join the 15-a-side game. Super League CCO Roger Draper said that the competition will "intensify its efforts to attract the best talent in the world." Draper added, "We're hoping to attract players from the NRL (National Rugby League) but also rugby union. ... I found it strange that when I came into this role there were some high-profile ex-rugby league players in union who wanted to come back but couldn't because of our rules and regulations." Draper also said that it was "only fair to allow the clubs with more spending power the opportunity to flex their muscles in the transfer market" to try to increase rugby league's profile. Draper: "We've got to give those clubs and owners who do want to pay out the money to bring in elite talent the ability to do so" (GUARDIAN, 4/10).
