The club, three-time reigning French champion, and already sanctioned several times since 2023, will have to explain itself to the specialized “salary cap” Disciplinary Commission on May 26.
The Toulouse stadium in turmoil. The three-time reigning French champion is summoned on May 26 before the disciplinary committee, notably for “exceeding” the “salary cap” in three of the last four seasons, the National Rugby League (LNR) announced on Sunday April 5.
“The salary cap manager”, who must monitor compliance with the salary cap for Top 14 rugby clubs “has noted several alleged infringements on the part of Stade Toulousain” explains the League press release. He accuses the red and black club of “exceeding the salary cap ceiling” in three of the last four seasons (2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2024-2025) as well as “failure to comply with the general obligation of transparency and cooperation” from 2021 to 2025.
The most successful club in the history of French rugby (24 championships, 6 European Cups) faces a heavy fine and a recruitment ban. However, the club does not risk sporting sanctions, such as withdrawal of points or demotion, because these were only put in place from the current season.
Stade Toulouse has already been fined 50,000 euros, suspended in 2023, when Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe left for Toulon. In 2025, he agreed as part of mediation to pay a “contribution” of 1.3 million euros to the LNR as part of the transfer of international fullback Melvyn Jaminet from Perpignan.
At the end of March, the president of Stade Toulouse Didier Lacroix wrote a letter to his counterparts calling on them to reform the salary cap, considering it partially “illegal and inconsistent”. The club also sent a request for repeal of several provisions to the League, which does not intend to follow up. The disagreement could go all the way back to the Council of State.
The reform of the Top 14 salary cap has occupied professional rugby for several months. This season, it includes a fixed amount of 10.7 million euros, which is increased depending on the number of French internationals in the squad.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
