Top 14 sides to cut back on overseas player recruitment
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The coronavirus pandemic is set to change the landscape of rugby around the world with one of the biggest changes set to occur in France.
The changes could be a small victory for Southern Hemisphere nations such as New Zealand, Australia and South Africa with the cash-rich Top 14 sides looking to cut back on the number of overseas imports.
With European rugby on an indefinite hiatus, the financial reserves of the clubs is being tested with no source of income from the lucrative television audiences.
Losses of over $180m are being predicted, should no rugby be played at all this season.
Speaking to England's Rugby Paper, CA Brive president Simon Gillham says the possible hit for French clubs will see a shift in focus of local talent over global stars.
"We're all going to have to sit down and say, 'How do we reconfigure this?'" Gillham says.
"There will be change. There'll be a lot of players on the market. Clubs will be looking again at salaries.
"Everybody has put an absolute brake on recruitment, on spending. Everyone's cutting back.
"There's going to be a lot more focus on 'local' – locally produced, homegrown. Rugby's going to be a part of that."
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