Rugby Players Association chief executive Damian Hopley has expressed his concern over a potential exodus of top English players to French clubs.
Stand-off Jonny Wilkinson looks set to extend his stay in Toulon, while Sale are expecting prop Andrew Sheridan to join him in the south of France at the end of the season.
Some of England's most exciting prospects such as Ben Foden, Courtney Lawes and Chris Ashton are also reported to have attracted interest from across the Channel.
And all this despite the fact that England recently declared they would only select overseas-based players in "exceptional circumstances" after next year's World Cup.
Hopley backs the Rugby Football Union's position and has warned RPA's members that they must face the consequences if they do leave the Aviva Premiership.
"We want the best players playing in England and we want the best English players playing in England," he said.
"There is clearly a concern that there might be an exodus of the best English players after the next World Cup. We want the best English players playing in England for the next two World Cups.
"The announcement by England was a bit heavy-handed but we believe it will force players to make a decision sooner rather than later.
"If this is what it takes to get the best results from England at the 2015 World Cup, then that's the price players will have to pay.
"They know they can go to France and get a guaranteed amount of money or they can fight for their place in England.
"Hopefully the profile of the game will continue to rise and that will make up for what they might earn in France.
Hopley continued: "It's a difficult balance because if someone is being offered treble their money from a French club, it's going to be hard to turn down. You're always one injury away from the end of your career.
"But there are mixed stories coming back from France, so it's as much about the environment and support off the field as the bottom line.
"Sometimes players have gone to France and been unhappy and their family has been unhappy too."
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_6579690,00.html
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Poaching All Blacks is one thing (and for that matter, fine & prefered), but those Frechists can bugger off and leave my teams players alone!
Stand-off Jonny Wilkinson looks set to extend his stay in Toulon, while Sale are expecting prop Andrew Sheridan to join him in the south of France at the end of the season.
Some of England's most exciting prospects such as Ben Foden, Courtney Lawes and Chris Ashton are also reported to have attracted interest from across the Channel.
And all this despite the fact that England recently declared they would only select overseas-based players in "exceptional circumstances" after next year's World Cup.
Hopley backs the Rugby Football Union's position and has warned RPA's members that they must face the consequences if they do leave the Aviva Premiership.
"We want the best players playing in England and we want the best English players playing in England," he said.
"There is clearly a concern that there might be an exodus of the best English players after the next World Cup. We want the best English players playing in England for the next two World Cups.
"The announcement by England was a bit heavy-handed but we believe it will force players to make a decision sooner rather than later.
"If this is what it takes to get the best results from England at the 2015 World Cup, then that's the price players will have to pay.
"They know they can go to France and get a guaranteed amount of money or they can fight for their place in England.
"Hopefully the profile of the game will continue to rise and that will make up for what they might earn in France.
Hopley continued: "It's a difficult balance because if someone is being offered treble their money from a French club, it's going to be hard to turn down. You're always one injury away from the end of your career.
"But there are mixed stories coming back from France, so it's as much about the environment and support off the field as the bottom line.
"Sometimes players have gone to France and been unhappy and their family has been unhappy too."
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_6579690,00.html
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Poaching All Blacks is one thing (and for that matter, fine & prefered), but those Frechists can bugger off and leave my teams players alone!
