Down and out.

Reigning Premiership champions Saracens will be playing Championship rugby next season with the club set to accept a further 35-point deduction after they were unable to comply with salary cap regulations once again this season.

According to Rob Kitson in the Guardian, the club’s players were informed on Friday morning at an emergency meeting that management had decided to accept their faith as they are unable to get their books in order once again.

It is understood Saracens would have needed to trim up to £2 million from their wage bill to be compliant.

The club was already docked 35 points earlier in the season along with a £5.6 million fine for breaches over the last three seasons. But this is the nail in the coffin for the three-time European champions who now look set to lose a number of their top stars.

Saracens is currently home to a number of England’s top internationals including captain Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Elliot Daly, Mako and Billy Vunipola and Jamie George.

Some if not all of these huge names now look destined to leave Saracens for other Premiership clubs as the club will need to get their books in order and it’s unlikely they will want to play a season in the Championship.

Any moves foreign are also unlikely (except for maybe George Kruis) as they would no longer be eligible for England selection if they leave the Premiership.

The RFU, however, insisted on Friday that Eddie Jones can select players from Championship teams, so there is a chance that some of them might stay. But with the Lions tour of South Africa coming at the end of next season, it would be a huge decision for any of them to stay.

EPCR has also confirmed today that even if Saracens were to win the Champions Cup this season – they cannot compete in it next season as a Championship side.