Predicting the Next 5 British Rugby Stars to Move to Top 14

Danny CoyleJan 2, 2014

The riches of French rugby have lured several big names across La Manche in recent seasons.

Jonny Wilkinson leads a large British contingent down in Toulon, while Welsh duo James Hook and Luke Charteris are plying their trade in Perpignan.

Then you have Nathan Hines and Lee Byrne at Clermont Auvergne, set to be joined next season by Jonathan Davies, while Racing Metro is home to Welsh trio Jamie Roberts, Dan Lydiate (pictured) and Mike Phillips as well as Ireland’s Jonny Sexton.

Scottish second-row duo Richie Gray and Jim Hamilton play for Castres and Montpellier respectively.

The list goes on, and you could put together a pretty decent side from the players earning a crust in the Top 14.

So, despite Welsh coach Warren Gatland’s prediction that the supply line from Wales to France will dry up sooner or later, there are bound to be more big names—especially from Wales—catching the boat.

The turmoil in Wales and England over the future of European competition has made plenty of players close to the end of their contracts ponder their next move.

Here are five who could have the ferry ticket hotline on speed dial.

1. Alun-Wyn Jones

1 of 5

David Rogers/Getty Images

Jones has been publicly angered by another poor showing from the Ospreys in Europe this season.

Indeed, as suggested by The Telegraph’s James Corrigan as far back as October, there are plenty of suitors from across the Channel for the man who skippered the Lions to that third test win.

He is approaching 30 and would love a tilt at Europe’s top club honours. In a rare candid interview for a modern rugby player, he told The Guardian’s Rob Kitson: “Can you blame people if they get played to death over there for a lot of money? OK, it might be a shorter career but you're making a lot of money."

2. Leigh Halfpenny

2 of 5

The Lions’ man of the series has been the subject of more speculation than you'd see on an average day at the London Stock Exchange.

And still, there has been no confirmation that Halfpenny has agreed to sign for Toulon, says Wales Online.

It would, no doubt, be of great interest to the current incumbent of the European champions’ No. 15 jersey, Delon Armitage, were Halfpenny to finally announce he has signed for the club.

The Englishman has extended his contract with the club until 2016 despite owner Mourad Boudjellal confirming the club had had talks with the Cardiff man.

3. Sam Warburton

3 of 5

Stu Forster/Getty Images

It would be the biggest political blow to the Welsh Rugby Union if their captain, and the Lions skipper, were to pack his bags.

But, like Halfpenny and Alun-Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton is out of contract this year. And with the Welsh regional structure in turmoil, who could blame Warburton for reaching for his passport?

Warburton has insisted he wants to stay in Wales despite his original deadline for a new contract to be agreed having passed in December.

One factor that could keep him at home is his injury record. With the amount and intensity of rugby he would have to play in France on top of international commitments, would Warburton’s body hold up?

4. Adam Jones

4 of 5

Stu Forster/Getty Images

The Lions prop has been playing down his chance of a move to France as his deal with the Ospreys enters its dog days.

But despite his claims that no one wants a 32-year-old prop who’ll go missing for his country’s international programme, you have to wonder whether that’s cod psychology from the wily old tight head, whose scrummaging prowess would be worth a lucrative deal in a nation in which they build statues to prop forwards.