It really depends if you see defections to Unioin as a problem that HAS to be solved, or just a pain that you can live with. At current levels of defections, the likes of Joel Tomkins leaving may be seen as something we can live with. If it were Sam, would people think the same?

If defections are viewed as a real threat to the sport then the level-playing field issue doesn't cut it - we ought to look at any solution to the issue (e.g. completely exempting third-party payments to players). If that benefits the top few clubs, sobeit.

If defections aren't seen as life-threatening to the sport, then we carry on as we are.

Based on my salary cap most players wouldn't actually get less, but it would target clubs to be more productive in range of areas.

ps getting 50-100k to exercise all week and then play a game for 90 minutes isn't a bad life!

If RU clubs were to regularly attract RL stars and pay them the sort of money being bandied around, we might suffer a few years of pain. But it will all be worth it because after five years of defections the RFU would be bankrupt.