The Big Red Machine's big budget

Once again, Heineken Cup champions Toulouse will have the biggest operating budget in the Top 14 for the 2010-2011 season.

France's Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) has released the figures for club expenditure for the new season with Toulouse topping the charts ahead of Top 14 champions Clermont.

Despite a salary cap of €8M (only for payrolls) being imposed for the first time, twelve of the fourteen clubs in France's top flight have seen their total operating budgets increase.

The cap, which translates to around £6.64 M, is well above the English Premiership's £4 M cap

The Stade Toulousain budget has grown by €1,43M compared to last season to € 29,53 M. Clermont will spend € 20,89 M for the year.

Read more: http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...302322,00.html