National Rugby League, Club Bosses Discuss Increase Of Players' Salary Cap

National Rugby League CEOs "are set to discuss calls for a bigger salary cap and club grant next season at a meeting in Sydney on Wednesday in a move that may help to resolve the futures of Israel Folau and Brett Stewart," according to Brad Walter of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Clubs "were allocated A$7M ($7.3M) in funding for the '13 season, with A$5M to cover the salary cap." However, the Rugby League Players' Association "has not agreed to the A$5M salary cap and is still negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with the NRL and clubs." Fairfax Media "has been told the association wants a salary cap of A$6.5M to be spread amongst the top 30 players at each club rather than the 25 currently included." Any increase in the salary cap "will eat further into the annual grant that clubs receive, but Fairfax has been told there is a feeling among the clubs they will not be able to reach an equitable agreement with the association by sticking to a A$5M ceiling on player payments next season" (SMH, 11/28).