France rugby captain Antoine Dupont has publicly criticized the current Top 14 salary cap, arguing it is too restrictive, especially concerning players' ability to profit from their personal image through commercial deals.

Dupont specifically highlights that the strict regulations limit players' image rights, which has become more problematic over the past four or five years as clubs have expanded sponsorship deals.

The French rugby authorities, led by the LNR, are considering proposals to lower the cap further, partly to prevent circumvention through indirect remuneration.

The debate over the salary cap and image rights continues, with ongoing discussions between the LNR and players' union Provale, amid a rising rugby economy driven by international success and record TV rights.

Dupont notes that the situation has worsened as clubs have increased sponsorship deals, which has led to more restrictions on players' ability to benefit from their personal image rights.

Players' union Provale has demanded more flexibility regarding image rights, but these demands have been ignored by the LNR, causing frustration among players.

He argues that the salary cap reduces earnings because image rights contracts are deducted from their salaries, leading to a significant loss of income.

Since its establishment in 2010, the salary cap for Top 14 clubs has been set at €10.7 million annually, including both player salaries and image rights, and it is scheduled to remain until 2027.

While the salary cap limits exploitation of club-linked sponsorships, players can still benefit from outside image rights and affiliations, though the restrictions are increasingly problematic.

High-profile players like Dupont and Romain Ntamack are affected by these policies, as their endorsement deals are included within the salary cap, reducing their potential income.

Dupont emphasizes that the salary cap prevents players from leveraging individual advertising contracts, such as endorsements with Peugeot, which are now incorporated into the cap, limiting their earnings.

Dupont also criticizes the LNR's invasive oversight, including demands for detailed disclosure of all commercial partners, which he describes as excessive and akin to a 'witch hunt'.

This criticism comes amid ongoing negotiations, including Stade Toulousain's recent renewal of its partnership with Peugeot, illustrating the ongoing impact of financial regulations on player earnings.