Wasps trio heading to France

Flutey's move to Brive was announced by the Top 14 club on Monday night, while Haskell and Palmer have signed for Stade Francais.

French clubs are not bound by a salary cap like their Guinness Premiership rivals and can therefore offer wages far in excess of those available in England.

Reports suggest that Flutey and Haskell have virtually trebled their money, which is a major concern both for English club rugby and the national team.

Wasps executive chairman Mark Rigby said: "It does raise great concern that French clubs can now blow the English clubs away when it comes to salaries, and it is clear that in financial terms we are no longer on a level playing field.

"There is a wider concern that the development of English rugby players will only be hampered as they move away from the Guinness Premiership, which stands as the best domestic league in the northern hemisphere, and regular head to head competition."

Haskell, Flutey and Palmer will no longer fall under the eight-year access agreement that England thrashed out with the Premiership clubs.

The trio will have to be released for Test matches but their French employers are under no obligation to make them available for additional England training weeks.