Caps on foreign players, star payments under radical Shute Shield overhaul
The player points system, a salary cap-style talent equalisation device introduced in Sydney's premier club rugby in 2008, has been scrapped and replaced by a new 'cap system', which limits the number of certain players a Shute Shield team can have on the field at one time, within categories like contracted Wallabies and Super Rugby players, and players from overseas.
In what was seen as a growing 'arms race' among many Shute Shield clubs, foreign players had grown to account for 10 per cent of all players in recent seasons (with some clubs having far more than 10 per cent); inhibiting the development of local talent and reducing the pool of eligible players for the Waratahs.
Ahead of the Shute Shield finals series beginning this weekend, Sydney Rugby Union confirmed the changes in a letter to all Sydney club presidents, chairmen and general managers on Tuesday, following a three-month review.
The unwieldy points system has players given a value, with Wallabies worth 20 points and Super Rugby players worth 10 points each, and factoring in other histories overseas and at junior level. But an array of discounts are also available for things like junior rep background and long service at a club.
Shute Shield sides have a limit of 100 points per game, and squabbling between clubs and fans over the self-reported player values is rampant, particularly around the star-studded clubs.
In 2024, Eastern Suburbs were found guilty of breaching the 100-point limit and were initially let off without punishment. But after rival club bosses threatened to boycott the Catchpole medal awards night, Easts were later docked five competition points. The penalty didn't stop the Waratahs-laden Easts side winning their first premiership in 55 years, but the saga was the impetus for the SRU to fast-track change.
'Sydney Rugby has been looking at it for a number of years, it's not just in isolation to the 2025 season or 2024 season, where we had some challenges with it,' SRU general manager Peter Watkins said.
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