Sale wing Ben Cohen has admitted his move to French club Brive in 2007 instead of Leicester and Welford Road was a mistake.
Just as Jonny Wilkinson, Riki Flutey and James Haskell led the English exodus across the Channel last summer; the 31-year-old Cohen was packing up in Brive and heading for Manchester.
Two years earlier, having bought out his Northampton contract, Cohen was on the verge of joining the Tigers – only for the move to break down due to financial constraints.
The World Cup winner’s testimonial earnings from Northampton would have broken the salary cap at Welford Road, so Cohen, always one for an adventure, headed to France.
“Looking back it was not a great idea, given that I had such a young family at the time and it is something that was a bit selfish,” said Cohen, who has two-year-old twin daughters.
“France was a world away from England, the behind the scenes stuff at the clubs was behind the English game but the media coverage was incredible.
“There were countless newspapers, magazines and TV stations who wanted to know everything that was going on – it took a bit of getting used to.
“They get much bigger crowds over there and there just seems to be a bigger all round interest with more of a spotlight on you.
“But as much as I had to adapt to the French game I’m finding I have to adapt to the current English game even more.
“It is very different to the game I left behind where at Northampton we were running the ball constantly and in comparison it looks like champagne rugby.”
