French rugby could heap further pressure on New Zealand Rugby to retain top All Blacks talent with Top 14 clubs considering if they should remove "marquee players" from their salary cap restrictions.
Top 14 and second division French clubs will discuss the rule next week during a three-day meeting in Bordeaux with the possibility it could be introduced as early as the 2019-20 season, L'Equipe reports.
The proposed law change therefore mean clubs could throw irresistible money at top international talent, including All Blacks after next year's Rugby World Cup.
It comes after rumours have already circulated of top All Black talent such as Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock and Ardie Savea having large contracts offered to them by Racing 92, Toulon and Pau respectively.
Under the proposed plan, the salary cap itself would be lowered by up to €500,000 (NZ$827,000) from its current €11.3m (NZ$18.7m) limit.
However, one player or a "marquee player" on a large, multi-season deal wouldn't be included in the salary cap restrictions.
French rugby sees the proposal as a way to combat the increasing competitiveness of the international player market with wealthy clubs in the English Premiership and Japan now securing top talent too.
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