Southern Hemisphere Exodus Illustrates Top 14 Pulling Power on the Rise

French rugby's extraordinary ability to lure the brightest gems of the Southern Hemisphere is well-known, but a post-Rugby World Cup exodus this year suggests the landscape is changing in favour of the Top 14.

It used to be that France was seen as a form of pension fund for the sport's top players, a retreat saved for the twilight years when bones began to creak and international endeavours were considerably lessened.

No longer is that the case, though, as players nearing or indeed already in their prime begin to join the legions amassing in Europe's emerging superpower, with Crusaders' Colin Slade as the latest to announce his switch.

Slade will join Conrad Smith at Pau next season, per ESPN Scrum, with the club having recently sealed promotion from the Pro D2 and earning the attention of Rugby World's Paul Williams in the process:

The fly-half is one of but a number of Super Rugby talents making headway for perhaps the most lucrative haven currently known to club rugby.

Slade's fellow All Black Ma'a Nonu will join reigning Top 14 champions Toulon in time for next term, and the Wallabies' Will Genia and Adam Ashley-Cooper are heading for Stade Francais and Bordeaux Begles, respectively.

Anonymous/Associated Press

If those moves don't illustrate the kind of money being thrown around by the giants of the Top 14, then the transfer taking New Zealand veteran Dan Carter to Paris certainly does.

Carter will become the best-paid player in the world on an annual salary of £1.3 million at Racing Metro, per The Telegraph's Daniel Schofield, who also quotes the No. 10 as saying his decision was all about the money on offer:

"

I've got a young family, and that definitely comes into play as the most important thing, and at the stage we're at, it's the perfect opportunity to experience living outside New Zealand. Obviously, realising you can't play rugby forever and wanting to make the most of that opportunity financially and set yourself up for the future was a big part of it, as well.

And Paris is not a bad place to live — one my favourite cities, which I'm quite excited about. It's something I've been working hard on for the last five or six years to make sure I'm making the most of the money I have earned and will earn while being a rugby player.

"

And Carter is by all means deserving of his payday—perhaps, not one so lucrative as what he's set to make with Racing, considering he'll turn 34 next season, but that's a matter best left for debate.

It's understandable to see why both he and Nonu would make the switch to France, each on the wrong side of 30 and contending to play in what will be their last World Cup (should they make Steve Hansen's squad).

But what of Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), Nic White (Brumbies), Tom Taylor (Crusaders) and Ben Tameifuna (Chiefs)? Of that quartet, 26-year-old Taylor sits as the eldest, but each should have at least some hope in carving out an international future in the seasons to come.

Murray Kinsella of The42.ie reported Pau's investment hasn't stopped yet, either, as South African star Francois Steyn is now in their sights:

But alas, hope doesn't seem enough for these players anymore, not when the idyllic scenes and substantial wage increase in Europe looks so appealing. And in any case, the method of thinking seems to be, "The national team will still be there when I make my return."

Naholo is joining an already established titan of French rugby with Clermont Auvergne, while White, Taylor and Tameifuna make somewhat riskier moves to Montpellier, Bayonne and Racing, respectively.

And the list doesn't stop there. Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu, Bulls lock Flip van der Merwe and Demetri Catrakilis of the Stormers will all join this French revolution, even when Super Rugby prospects are high.

Investors are encouraging the cycle, too, as companies start to see the value in rugby and Rugby World writer Gavin Mortimer confirmed recently that Pau will be soon to benefit:

Top 14 clubs continue their money-fuelled pledge to tease in the world's mightiest, even though debt is largely running at a high for most of its combatants.

French newspaper Midi Olympique (via ESPN Scrum) reported this week the average club salary rose to €7.4 million in the 2013-14 campaign, but Racing Metro, Stade Francais and Castres account for "just over half" of the nearly €34 million debt afflicting France's top two leagues.

Of course, debt is in no way exclusive to French rugby at present, with the salary cap debate currently engulfing the Premiership, one that could lead to a vast divide between England's powers.

Pro D2 side Perpignan, a former club of Carter's, are a club that knows how large investments can go awry all too swiftly, with Mortimer hinting at some of their recent off-pitch troubles:

Contrary to what some may believe, Toulon are one of only two Top 14 clubs to actually be posting profit—alongside Brive—giving the club some license to continue its splurging habits, to an extent, as at least they seem to be doing so meaningfully. 

So we see, no longer is France the retirement centre solely cut out to accommodate those heading for the exit; so tantalising are its borders now that even the young and inspired are sacrificing potential caps in place of cash.