Leicester Tigers handed £47,000 fine for salary cap breach in 2019/20 season

Leicester Tigers have been fined £47,000 for a breach in salary cap rules during the 2019/20 season.

This is the second time they have been fined in two years after they were ordered to pay a £31,000 penalty in 2022 for breaches between 2016 and 2021. During Premiership Rugby Limited's inquiry, it was discovered that Leicester engaged in an agreement with a third party who subsequently made payments to the image rights firms representing Leicester players.

"These payments relate to salary during the Covid-19 period, which had not been included in the club's certification for the 2019-20 salary cap year," read a statement from Premiership Rugby.

"Additional payments of £47,136.91 have been identified relating to the salary cap spend of Leicester Tigers in the 2019-20 salary cap year.

"As announced in March 2022, which was a separate matter, there was an over-spend by Leicester Tigers of £98,586.32.

"In accordance with the regulations, for this level of additional overrun, the club is required to pay £1 for every £1 overspend, being £47,136.91. Leicester Tigers has paid the overrun tax in full."

Leicester chief executive Andrea Pinchen said the club has been compliant with the regulations in the last four seasons.

“While disappointed to again have historic salary cap spending relating to 2019-20 season result in this overrun tax, as was the case in March 2022, we accept the findings of Premiership Rugby.

“As was the case in March 2022, this in no way relates to any of the most recent four seasons and we are grateful to Premiership Rugby for the cooperative approach in bringing this matter to a close.

“We have accepted and paid the overrun tax and, as stated in March 2022, the current club management – who inherited this issue – have a great respect for the Salary Cap regulations and remain committed to ensuring Leicester Tigers is compliant every season.”