Schmidt fearful of Top 14 exodus

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt admits he is worried about his players following Jonathan Sexton to France but has questioned whether his star forwards would want to sign up for the grind of French Top 14 rugby.

British & Irish Lions stars Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien and Conor Murray, as well as Ireland second row Donnacha Ryan, are all out of contract at the end of the season with French clubs such as ASM Clermont Auvergne, Toulon and Toulouse already making enquiries about their future availability.

The Top 14 clubs have been emboldened by fly-half Sexton’s rejection of an IRFU contract last season and his subsequent transfer to Racing Metro and incoming Ireland boss Schmidt, Sexton’s former head coach at Leinster, is concerned about further defections now a precedent has been set.