ENGLAND’S TOP clubs have agreed to freeze their annual €4.45 million salary cap for the next two seasons. It was also agreed to implement “a series of other cost control measures” following a meeting of English Premiership club chairmen and shareholders.

Premier Rugby additionally want to increase the number of Premiership fixtures. Any games on top of the existing schedule though would require English Rugby Football Union consultation and agreement under a new long-term deal thrashed out last year between the Rugby Football Union and Premiership clubs.

One possibility could see clubs playing league fixtures on current Anglo-Welsh weekends, adding up to five rounds of league action to the 22-game Premiership programme. Another option would be to expand the existing title play-off format, which presently uses a semi-finals and final system.

The Premier Rugby board will discuss proposals further at its meeting next Tuesday, hoping to finalise matters in the next few weeks. It was also concluded yesterday to retain the Premiership at its existing size of 12 clubs.

Premier Rugby, in a statement, said: “It was concluded that the league should remain at 12 clubs; it was strongly reconfirmed that existing playing contracts should be honoured, but the salary cap would be frozen at £4 million for the next two seasons and a series of other cost control measures would be implemented.

“In order to maintain the salary cap at the current level, avoid salary cuts and maintain jobs, Guinness Premiership fixtures must be increased . . .”