Premiership Sides Hindered by Financial Disparity in European Competitions, Warns Jonny May
Former England and Gloucester wing Jonny May has expressed his concerns that Premiership teams are automatically at a disadvantage when facing off against the financial juggernauts in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
The 34-year-old was part of the Gloucester squad that was comprehensively beaten by the Sharks in the final of the Challenge Cup, Europe’s second-tier competition. John Plumtree’s South African side secured a dominant 36-22 triumph at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to lift their first major title, showcasing an all-Springboks front-row and a stellar performance from lock Eben Etzebeth.
Financial Disparity Between Premiership and European Teams
May believes that the financial resources available to Irish, URC, and French teams make it incredibly challenging for English clubs to compete at the highest level.
“How do the English teams compete with the Irish teams, the URC teams with no salary cap or the French teams? That’s the sort of elephant in the room,” he said on The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast.
The former Gloucester player pointed out that the Sharks’ squad likely cost significantly more than Gloucester’s, highlighting the financial disparity between the teams.
“The team that Gloucester had out at the weekend – and we tried our best – their team financially must have been three or four times more expensive than our team,” he explained.
Physical Dominance and Underlying Financial Issues
May acknowledged that the Sharks’ physical dominance, particularly in the scrum and defence, was a key factor in their victory. However, he believes that the underlying issue is the sheer financial resources available to the European giants compared to the Premiership sides.
“It comes down to money. It’s a South Africa pack, it’s a joke,” May lamented, expressing his frustration at the seemingly uneven playing field facing English clubs in the European competitions.
The former England international’s comments underscore the challenges Premiership teams face when competing against the financial powerhouses of the rugby union landscape. As the sport continues to evolve, the ability to attract and retain top talent will undoubtedly be a crucial factor in determining success at the European level.
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