Saracens are reportedly under investigation © Getty Images

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Saracens and Bath are both being investigated for alleged salary cap breaches, according to a report in Saturday's Daily Mail.

The paper claims that an inquiry is under way after a 'whistleblower' made complaints to Premiership Rugby's salary cap auditors. Recommended sanctions are points deductions and fines, although the extent of any alleged breaches is not apparent.

A Premiership Rugby spokesman said: "Premiership Rugby cannot comment on whether investigation proceedings are taking place or not. Any such investigation would be done under the salary capping regulations 2013-14.

"Regulation 15 of those regulations provides that any such proceedings are confidential. The regulations are available on Premiership Rugby's website."

Points deductions can range from four points for a salary cap breach of up to £75,000, to 40 points for more than £250,000.

Saracens, on Friday, led calls to scrap the Premiership salary cap, claiming that seven Premiership clubs have indicated they want the existing system abolished, and say the matter will be discussed at a Premiership Rugby shareholders meeting on February 4. In a press release issued by the club, Saracens said they are "creating a consensus among Premiership clubs to remove the salary cap, releasing the 'handbrake' on English club rugby".

Such a move, though, was greeted by surprise in many quarters.

Harlequins chief executive David Ellis said: "The comments regarding an abolition of the salary cap were somewhat surprising given we have recently had discussions on this very topic as a league.

"The fundamentals of this regulation were approved recently at a shareholder meeting and so I can't understand why the issue is being raised again so quickly. If there is a genuine desire to have a fresh discussion on the salary cap then we are more than happy to have a debate as a league, but in the right way, in the right forum.

"As a club, Harlequins fully supports the salary cap - it is one of the elements which makes ours one of the most competitive leagues in the world. Every game counts in the Aviva Premiership and that has been more than evident this season. Most of the great leagues globally have salary caps or systems in place to monitor spending."