Saracens’ salary cap scandal thrusts Wallaby on to open market

The futures of England skipper Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and the Vunipola brothers are up in the air, but it’s a game-changing former Wallaby who’s eyeing a Super Rugby return.

Will Skelton’s future is up in the air. Picture: Getty Images

The spectacular fall of English rugby club Saracens for salary cap rorts may thrust former Wallaby Will Skelton on to the open market for Super Rugby.

Selling stars and chopping wages is the certain next step for the leading club after the stunning development that Saracens will be relegated at the end of the season.

The futures of England skipper Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and Vunipola brothers Mako and Billy are up in the air, not just the club’s game-changing former Wallaby.

Skelton only signed a new two-year deal with the club last August when settling on Europe as his future after then-Wallabies coach Michael Cheika had tried to woo him back to Australia.

That was just months before Saracens were plunged into crisis when hit with a deduction of 35 competition points and £5.4 million ($10.21 million) fine.

Will Skelton’s future is up in the air. Picture: Getty Images

Further talks have led to the relegation decision, and discussions will continue over whether Saracens get to keep their English and European trophies of the past three years.

The NSW Waratahs, where he started his top-level career, would always be the frontrunners for Skelton, 27, if he suddenly became open to offers from Australia.

The terms of his contract will be investigated to see if there is a trapdoor out of his contract, whether he wants to play second division or even court moves to another top English club. With the English Premiership not due to finish until June, any discussions for a return to Super Rugby would likely centre on 2021.

Any contract agreement would make him available for the Wallabies under new coach Dave Rennie but Saracens’ predicament is so fresh that it is not yet worth speculating.

Will Skelton has played 18 Tests for the Wallabies. Picture: Darren England

The 18-Test giant’s stocks are on a high because he won the Players’ Player of the Year award last year at Saracens for his influence on the European Champions Cup triumph and English title.

Tony Rowe, chief executive of the Exeter Chiefs club beaten by Saracens for the English title, told BBC that he was relieved the champions had been strongly punished.

“They could either open up their books so that Premiership Rugby could do a forensic audit or they could take relegation,” Rowe said.

“They have cheated and I’m just a bit upset it has taken so long to do this.”

— with wires