English Premiership clubs have agreed to cut the league’s salary cap from £7 million to £6m for the 2021-22 season.

The reduction, which is expected to be confirmed by Premiership Rugby on Tuesday, is designed to help clubs overcome financial losses caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In another significant change the number of ‘marquee’ players – whose salaries do not count towards the overall cap – in a squad will be reduced from two to one in the 2022-23 season.

Last week, all 13 Premiership clubs unanimously approved a sweeping overhaul of the league’s salary cap.

In May, a review led by former government minister Lord Myners proposed 52 recommendations to overhaul the salary cap following a comprehensive review.

The reduction of the salary cap and marquee player allowance were not officially recommended by the review, which followed last year’s punishment of Saracens for breaches of the salary cap and subsequent failure to provide proof of their immediate compliance to auditors.

Premiership Rugby last week agreed a target date of Saturday, 15 August for the resumption of play after the season was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

At a board meeting on Thursday night, the restart date was agreed following the announcement that Premiership clubs can return to training.

Read: English Premiership to get under way in August

Photo: Sale Sharks