French clubs to splash €300m on player wages this season

The uphill task facing the Irish provinces in the Champions Cup against French sides has become clear following the disclosure that over €300m will be spent by the sides competing in the Top 14 this season writes John Fallon.

The Irish provinces will meet six of the Top 14 sides in the pool stages, with Leinster facing Montpellier and Castres, Ulster taking on Clermont Auvergne and Ian Madigan’s Bordeaux-Begles, Connacht challenging Toulouse and Munster meeting Ronan O’Gara’s Racing 92.