Quote ="SmokeyTA"I think Jean Philippe Baille is on a par with the likes of Evans and Thornley, Atkins is a couple of years older than him but his form goes from one extreme to the other with alarming regularity. Percival and Crooks are unfilled potential at the moment.
But lets be fair to Les Catalans, they only entered SL in 2006 and got going from a standing start, its only now we are seeing the first generation of French players who have come through a professional set up from scholarship age and its not too bad. We are seeing the likes of Gigot, Pelissier, Pala, Barthau, and Escare to add to the traditional strength they have in the forwards.
Next 5 years is when we should look to judge the French system, I think they do have a few too many overseas players at the moment and want to see them cut down. If they are regularly playing 3,4,5 overseas players in the next few years then they will be on track.
And whilst they have the whole of france to go at, it’s a double edged sword in they are the only team producing French players, they can’t pick up a few French players from other clubs like English clubs do with each other.'"
you also have the problem that Rugby Union in France has a lot higher profile and even more money to spend than English union clubs on player salaries
