Northampton Saints: Phil Dowson says that Premiership clubs can compete in the Champions Cup

It is “difficult but possible” for the sides of the premiership competing both nationally and in Europe, says the director of the Rugby Phil Dowson of Northampton Saints.

Dowson’s team has endured a difficult defense of their premiership title, but it is the only English club remained in the quarterfinals of Investec Champions Cup this year after Arleqini, Saraceni, Leicester Tigers and Sharks Sale have been eliminated in the last 16.

Saints, who are trying to become the first winners of the Cup of the Premiership champions from Exeter in 2020, can reach a second consecutive semifinal in the competition of the European Premier Club if they exceed Castres at the Franklin Gardens on Saturday.

The wage limit of Premiership has increased to £ 6.4 million this season, but is still considerably lower than the limit of £ 9 million for the first 14 clubs in France, and after the terrible performance of last weekend by the British clubs in general, the former wing of England and Lions Ugo Monye He suggested having found “difficult to compete” accordingly.

But Dowson, who led his team to the title of Premiership and a semifinal of the First Champions Cup since 2011 last season, told the BBC Radio Northampton: “It is difficult (compete) but it should be difficult.

“Some of the other sides and alloys have more ability to resist accidents and rest players, but it is still possible for the premiership teams.

“The top 14 has a longer program and could have larger teams, but they still have to make sure that they are winning every week to compete on two fronts, in the same way in the Rugby United championship.

“It is possible but it is difficult. We have not been able to do it very well this year, but last year we had a decent race in the tournament and it is a very difficult thing to do.”