Proposal to relax wage restrictions means French club threat to top All Blacks will increase

France's threat to the All Blacks could ramp up considerably with clubs there considering removing marquee players from the salary cap restrictions.

The proposed move, to be discussed by Top 14 and second division French clubs at a three-day meeting next week, would allow them to throw irresistible money at top players.

If it is rubber stamped it could be introduced for the 2019-2020 season, meaning the rush for the best players after next year's World Cup will step up.

Already French clubs are chasing All Blacks skipper Kieran Read for Racing 92, veteran lock Sam Whitelock for Toulon and flanker Ardie Savea for Pau.

Under the plan, which is believed to have the support of some heavyweight club owners, the salary cap would be lowered by up toNZ$827,000 from its current NZ$18.7m limit.

But one player on a mega-salary over a multi-season deal would not be included in the salary cap restrictions.

French reports say a marquee player move would allow Pau to aggressively chase Savea who has apparently been offered improved terms by New Zealand Rugby.

Savea is just 25 and has had an increased workload in 2018 as injuries hit the All Blacks' flanker stocks. He has quickly registered 35 test appearances.

Read has confirmed he will head overseas after next year's World Cup, an early decision that will heat a bidding war for his services.

[Source: stuff.co]