Owen Farrell holds clear-the-air talks with England team-mates after Saracens scandal
OWEN FARRELL led clear-the-air talks at England's training base in Portugal today to address the Saracens salary cap scandal.
The England skipper, one of several high-profile players implicated in the dirty dossier that addressed the cheating of Sarries over the last three seasons, spoke to Eddie Jones' squad to make sure there would be no rifts heading into the Six Nations.
Fly-half Farrell, along with Maro Itoje and Mako Vunipola, were all publicly named as players involved in controversial business deals with their shamed former chairman Nigel Wray.
New forwards coach Matt Proudfoot said: "The players have had a chat. It was players only.
"I'm new to the camp, but from a coaching perspective the interaction between the players has been really good.
"I've been trying to forge relationships with the players so seeing the different players sitting around the table talking and have banter.
"They've been very jokey like any rugby players are. I took that as being very positive."
England's Sarries stars were also caught up in a civil war between the players' union and Premiership bosses.
The players have had a chat. It was players only."
Matt Proudfoot
On Thursday furious RPA chief Damian Hopley accused the league of causing "untold damage" by naming Sarries players in a leaked report into salary cap cheating.
The damning report was then officially published yesterday, with player's names omitted.
Hopley fumed: "Having been given assurances all confidential player information would be redacted, we were stunned the entire report was leaked.
"This has caused untold damage to all parties. We have taken up this breach of confidence with PRL and will continue to offer ongoing support to all players involved.
"But the RPA stands in support of the salary cap and the essential role it has to play."
Hopley's office also said they had "fundamental concerns about the leaking of confidential information regarding players' personal information".
LATEST RUGBY NEWS
The leaked report detailed how Wray and two directors ploughed £1.6million into Itoje's image rights company.
Wray also paid £450,000 into the Vunipola brothers' property company.
But there is no suggestion any Saracens player was complicit in the club's actions.