Toulon handed HUGE fine over Dan Biggar signing from Northampton
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Fine.
French giants Toulon have been fined €500,000 (£425,000) by the Top 14 over the signing of former Wales international Dan Biggar from Northampton Saints in November 2022.
Following a disciplinary commission investigation, the Top 14 side have been accused of a lack of transparency by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby.
They claim that a severance compensation of up to £350,000 paid by Northampton to the 34-year-old fly-half was not declared by the three-time European champions in official documents.
Top 14 clubs must abide by a salary cap set at €10m (£8.5m) and compensation payments such as the one paid for Biggar can have a bearing on the cap.
Toulon have said that the club will contest the fine and pointed out that the salary cap had not been breached.
“The Rugby Club Toulonnais has taken note of the decision of the disciplinary commission of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby relating to the failure to comply with the general obligation of transparency and cooperation concerning the salary cap,” a statement read.
“It should be noted above all that the Rugby Club Toulonnais has not exceeded the salary cap ceiling, which is also recognised by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby and its disciplinary committee.
“The conviction at first instance to a fine of €500,000 is firmly contested by the club which, as it has the possibility, will appeal this decision in the coming days to the appeals commission of the French Rugby Federation.”