It may be tempting but I think it is important they are in the right place and developing their game in the right way rather than making an extra £100,000 or whatever it is Peter Wheeler

Leicester Tigers chief executive Peter Wheeler insists the exodus of players to France from the Premiership does not overly worry him.

Andy Goode, Ayoola Erinle and Benjamin Kayser all moved from Tigers to French clubs in the past year and Julien Dupuy looks set to join Stade Francais.

But Wheeler told BBC Radio Leicester: "It's not had a massive impact on us.

"The Premiership has matured really well in the last four or five years. The players get well looked after."

England stars Jonny Wilkinson and James Haskell also made the switch at the end of the season - supposedly lured by the promise of bigger wages.

But Wheeler said England's premier division is as strong as it has ever been and is confident it will remain so.

"Being in that environment [Premiership] you will get the best out of the players and I think players will have a much better chance to reach their potential," he said.

"It may be tempting especially for the younger players but I think it is important they are in the right place and developing their game in the right way rather than making an extra £100,000 or whatever it is."

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