The result was the activation of counter financial initiatives to balance the offers and try and keep the majority of players where they were.

On his arrival at Headingley Carnegie, Eric Anselme would tell us stories of his experiences in French rugby league and how the game is slowly growing.

He also mentioned how big an attraction French rugby union is becoming and how the larger sporting contingent in France are attracted to the game.

Given the strength of the French national team that wasn't news nor was it surprising.

What was news however was the financial growth in the French domestic competition and the growing rumours of its interest in rugby league players from Australia's National Rugby League (NRL).

The English Super League has seen its fair share of big overseas names and has tried to attract players such as Mark Gasnier who have fallen prey to the French competition.

Canterbury Bulldogs' Sonny Bill Williams – rugby league's version of the film super hero Hancock, has also featured as a top name on the wanted list of the English clubs.

Neither were ever successfully enticed over to the English game even though they would undoubtedly be paid high wages, at a time when the pound sterling to Australian dollar exchange rate is almost A$3 to £1.

Fast-forward to a previously unlikely scenario in 2008 where both are now enjoying French cuisine and south facing afternoons having made the 12,000-mile trip for a taste of the French union competition.

I don't think it takes long to figure out what makes the move so attractive.

It's certainly not the challenge, they could have found plenty of that on Australian shores.

Given the mass migration of Europeans to Australia for a "greater lifestyle" I doubt that quality of life played a big part in their move.

It's probably more to do with the £750,000 annual wage Williams was rumoured – which has since been officially denied – to be earning.

The reaction Williams' move has caused in Australia is massive, not least because Sonny Bill was still under a substantial contract at the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Being such a high-profile player the sudden exit has caused a storm with the powers that be in the NRL, who are trying everything within their legal power to block the move and make him return Down Under and account for his actions.

The majority of finger-pointers there, have heavily criticised the influence of former self-proclaimed "best player in the world" turned super middleweight boxer Anthony "The Man" Mundine who was reported to have driven Williams to Sydney airport en route to France.

Mundine is quoted as saying: "What he (Sonny) wants to achieve, and what he wants to do as far as his new goals and new dreams in life . . .