Top 14’s foreign legion worry France coach

French coach Philippe Saint-André fears the impact of foreign stars in France’s Top 14 is hurting the national side.

France, who finished fourth in last year’s Six Nations, remains the top destination for the world’s premier players, with Ireland star Jonny Sexton the latest to join the lucrative Top 14.

Saint-André, however, views the standard and the allure of the Top 14 as a double-edged sword — insisting the competition’s star quality brings with it a barrier to the development of French talent as youngsters struggle to break into first teams.