Welsh Rugby Union chief executive David Moffett says he will raise the issue of player poaching by French clubs at the next Six Nations meeting. "France are artificially inflating the transfer market. I don't think it's sustainable, but they have benefactors with deep pockets," said Moffett.
"I will make my concerns known to the French Union, but I'm not sure if they can do anything to stop it."
Stephen Jones, Gareth Thomas and Shane Williams are targets for French clubs.
Moffett says he has deep fears about what the financial domination of France and England in the northern hemisphere will do to the game.
"It could end up like football's Premiership, where only two or three teams can compete," Moffett told BBC Wales.
"It's not just Wales. If France target, say, Brian O'Driscoll they'll get him because they have the financial muscle. "They don't have any salary caps and seem to be a law unto themselves.
"Ultimately it will affect the world game. England and France are cash-rich and real rugby powerhouses, but it won't do them much good if they have no-one to play.
"We don't want to become feeder countries for them, but at the moment all we can do is try to get our house in order so we can meet reasonable pay demands by players.
"It would help if Wales only had four regions as that is all we have the players and finances to sustain."
Moffett's financial concerns were shared by Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher, who believes he is likely to lose outside-half Stephen Jones to England or France.
"He (Jones) has been offered double his current salary by teams from both those countries and we simply can't compete," Gallacher told BBC Sport Wales.
 |  Gareth Thomas would thoroughly enjoy the experience of playing for a team like Toulouse |
"Regional funding from the WRU is down to �7 million next year and our share will be about �1.2m, while Zurich Premiership clubs get �2.4m from their union. "How are we expected to be competitive in the Heineken Cup when we have one hand tied behind our back? I'm not blaming anyone for this, but it's the way of the world."
Ex-Wales scrum-half Rob Howley, who left Cardiff two years ago to join Wasps, feels that a move can be of benefit to players, though.
"Someone like Gareth Thomas would thoroughly enjoy the experience of playing for a team like Toulouse and would come back a better player," said Howley.
"It would be a massive culture change and Gareth enjoys being close to his family, but rugby's a short career and the sort of money being talked about is hard to refuse.
"France has a major advantage in recruiting players because they don't have a salary cap so their sponsors can put together big financial packages."
MMIX
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