LUCRATIVE SALARIES and the English league’s salary cap are behind the exodus of Wasps England trio Riki Flutey, Tom Palmer and James Haskell to French clubs, the London club’s director of rugby Ian McGeechan said.

Flanker Haskell and lock Palmer will join Stade Français at the end of the season, while centre Flutey will join several other English players, including England outhalf Andy Goode, at Brive. “There is far more money in France at the moment and we can’t compete with that,” McGeechan told Sky Sports News. English Premiership clubs have a salary cap of £4 million (€4.5 million) a year, while in France there is no limit.

Wasps have also lost former France captain Raphael Ibanez who announced his retirement from all rugby yesterday after doctors told him he risked serious injury if he played again.