Seeing its elite players lured across the Channel by the greater financial clout of the salary-cap-free French clubs and the better standing of the euro, the RFU is flexing its muscles. The language is more strident, the intention more evident. A player's international career is on the line if they are unable, through club commitments, to meet England demands.

"Our policy is tough and it does have teeth," RFU chief executive Francis Baron said. "Our job is to make clear that policy."

Might players be excluded if they are not able to comply?

"Yes, we accept that," Baron said.

There is an obvious disparity in the market forces. Stade Toulousain have a playing budget of €23million (£20.6m), 55 per cent of which can be spent on salaries. The wage-cap in England is set at £4.2million.

There are 22 English-qualified players either playing or about to play their rugby in France. Elite rugby director Rob Andrew and England manager Martin Johnson will be most concerned with the imminent departure of elite squad players such as James Haskell, Tom Palmer, Riki Flutey and Jamie Noon. Newcastle fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is about to sign with Toulon.

Release for international matches is a straightforward issue given that it is governed by International Rugby Board regulations (unless of course you play for Argentina, Samoa, Tonga etc etc). However, under the terms of an eight-year, £112million deal that came into effect only last summer, Johnson has unprecedented access to elite players. The England manager will want to ensure that any Test player will be released by his French club for a two-week period before the start of the Six Nations.

"We will never again send a Test team into a match without a two-week preparation period," Baron said.

Players must also be available for a week-long training camp in August and also be stood down from club matches on two occasions during the domestic season. There are also medical protocols which apply to EPS players in England such as that Andrew can insist that a player carrying an injury does not turn out for his club at designated times.

There is also a possibility that exiled players will have a clash of loyalties should their club get through to the French championship final. Next year's final is scheduled for early June which will jeopardise a player's involvement in England's important two-Test trip to Australia, their last tour before the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

After a fact-finding mission (to where, Aruba?) and England's tour to Argentina, Johnson and Andrew will name a 32-man squad on July 1.

"Martin will make a judgment call on selection once he has all the available information," Baron said. "This year has been difficult because some players decided to go to France before the policy was in place. It will be easier next year."

RFU chairman Martyn Thomas met with French officials last week to try to agree broad principles. The French union is mightily concerned about the influx of players from overseas. Rather like Arsenal, there have been times when some French clubs have struggled to field many, if any, French-qualified players.

Foreign Legion

Already there
Bayonne : Johnny Howard, Andrew Springgay
Biarritz : Magnus Lund*
Brive : Andy Goode*, Simon Hughes, Ben Johnston*, Steve Thompson*
Castres : Phil Christophers*
Montauban : Nick Adams
Montpellier : Ollie Smith*
Perpignan : Perry Freshwater*

Coming back
Ben Cohen* (Brive to Sale)

Signed and sealed
Iain Balshaw* (Gloucester to Biarritz)
Kris Chesney (Saracens to Toulon)
Ayoola Erinle (Leicester to Biarritz)
Riki Flutey* (Wasps to Brive)
James Haskell* (Wasps to Stade Francais)
Tom May (Newcastle to Toulon)
Tom Palmer* (Wasps to Stade Francais)

Just about there
Joe El Abd (Bristol to Toulon)
Jamie Noon* (Newcastle to Brive)
Shaun Perry* (Bristol to Brive)
Jonny Wilkinson* (Newcastle to Toulon)

* England internationals

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rug...to-France.html