French Rugby To Limit Overseas Player Imports

03 Apr 2009 | tshego

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English rugby stars looking for lucrative transfers to the French league are to have their options reduced after the latter implemented a limit on the number of overseas players plying their trade domestically in their top-flight clubs.

Clubs will be set a minimum number of home-grown players and will be allowed to have no more than 30% of their squad from overseas by the 2011/12 season.

Three London Wasps players, James Haskell, Tom Palmer and Riki Flutey, will all move to France next season while Newcastle Falcons outside-half Jonny Wilkinson has also been linked with a move to France.

‘The rule will start to be applied progressively, with 50% of home-grown players in 2010/11 and 70% as of the 2011/12 season,’ said the French rugby league (LNR).

The LNR added that there would be a salary cap introduced at French rugby’s top-flight clubs by the 2010/11 season to limit financial risks. English rugby clubs already have a salary cap of £3.6m.

English governing body the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has previously voiced concerns at losing English players to clubs abroad.

The RFU, and Premier Rugby Limited, the organisation which represents the 12 Premiership clubs, have signed an agreement which allows England players to be released for international matches during the season. However clubs outside the agreement do not need to adhere to the regulations.