Mike Ford: ‘Aviva Premiership wages must not get out of control’

Bath head coach Mike Ford has said that wages in rugby union must be kept at a sensible level.

The Aviva Premiership club confirmed the signing of Taulupe Faletau on a £1.2m deal, after a rise in the salary cap following the Rugby World Cup.

“The key is that the money doesn’t all go into players’ pockets,” Ford told reporters. “The cap has gone up, which means we can compete in Europe. But we must not create a monster.

The sport needs to keep an eye on wages not ­escalating so we do not get like football – as we can’t afford it. “The wages have escalated since the World Cup. We have to educate the agents.

“This is the pot, £6.5m and we need a squad of 35 players – work it out. But sometimes they look at that one player and not bother about anyone else. It’s everyone’s responsibility for it not to be like that.”

Faletau will join Bath from Newport Gwent Dragons at the end of the season.