Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty has backed the decision to keep the top flight's base level salary cap at £7m for three seasons from next year.

The current limit of £6.5m will rise from the start of the 2017-18 campaign, as announced 12 months ago, and will then remain at a constant level.

McCafferty believes the cap, which ensures that Premiership clubs can only spend up to the salary maximum on their playing budget - bar two marquee players whose salaries are not included - will help to keep the division competitive.

"We have a very strong and highly competitive league," Sky Sports News quotes him as saying. "The salary cap framework is essential to maintaining its strength and protecting the competitive uncertainty which is its hallmark.

"Setting the salary cap framework through to the next Rugby World Cup season allows the clubs to plan ahead with certainty, as well as underpinning the continued delivery of financial viability and the clubs' investment in all parts of the professional game.

"This investment will help ensure the English game thrives at club and country level, and that we achieve domestic, European and international success."

The board of Premiership Rugby unanimously backed the decision to retain the level of the cap at £7m.