Pat Lam is interested in signing England back rower Jack Willis, who was made redundant when Wasps went into administration this month, but is unable to do because of the salary cap.
Several Wasps players have found new homes. The higher earners, like Vincent Koch and Brad Shields, have moved to France while the ones who have found fresh employers in England have either been academy graduates or long-term injury cover which earns dispensation from the cap.
Even though Wasps and Worcester, who have also gone into administration, will no longer receive their share of central funds, the other 11 clubs will not be receiving an extra allocation to allow the cap to be raised and more players from the two clubs given contracts.
“There is no extra slack,” said Lam, Bristol's director of rugby. “It is something that is outside my area. What has happened is unfortunate for so many players but we have to stay within the rules of the cap.
“There are a number of players out there with two playing rosters being made redundant that clubs would be keen on. Jack is one of them but we cannot sign him or anyone else unless we can fit them into the cap.
“For me, this comes down to governance and the ability to make decisions quickly. There are a number of very good players who find themselves in a flooded market because their teams have gone bust.
“It does not matter whether they are top internationals or academy players. No one is going to listen to coaches (about finding them a new club) which is why it comes back to governance. I have heard the word watershed used several times in recent weeks and it sums up the position we are in.”
Willis will spend the next month with England but his club captain at Wasps, Joe Launchbury, is not in the national squad and although he has been linked with Harlequins, a tweak would have to be made to the cap for the lock to remain in England as he would have been one Wasps top earners.
“What has happened in recent weeks has made us test our programme at Bristol,” said Lam. “We do a lot with players to prepare them for a life outside rugby and we are confident everyone in our group has a plan B, the ability to do something else. It has to be a driver because what has happened this season shows the reality of life is that these things can happen.”
Lam reiterated his view that the Premiership need to put its dayto-day operation in the hands of a commissioner so that when the unexpected happens, such as dozens of players suddenly finding themselves out of work, the reaction is immediate.
“The owners decide the purpose and remit of the Premiership,” said Lam. “What is needed is a person to drive that. Their decisions would not always be popular, but at the moment, as we are seeing with the issue of whether the fixture schedule should change in the new year because of what has happened, the minority can hold sway.”
