The French season begins this week with the first round of Pro D2 fixtures taking place on Friday and Saturday evening followed by the Top 14 the following week.
The Scottish contingent playing across the Channel has grown, with Edinburgh trio Jamie Ritchie, Dave Cherry and Ali Price all making the move to France.
It’s easy to see the attraction given the quality of rugby and standard of living, not to mention the salaries on offer in what is the most lucrative league in the world.
The success of Blair Kinghorn at Toulouse has made the full-back the most eye-catching of the Scottish exports but Jonny Gray gave him a run for his money last season as Bordeaux won the Champions Cup and pushed Toulouse all the way in the Top 14 final.
There is intrigue in the second tier too where Cherry will be hoping to help Vannes return to the top flight at the first attempt.
Here’s a look at the Scots to watch out for in France:
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5. Alex Masibaka (Montpellier Hérault)
The dynamic Masibaka is another on an upward trajectory, swapping Pro D2 for the Top 14 as he leaves Soyaux-Angouleme to return to his parent club, Montpellier. The Australian-born back-rower qualifies to represent Scotland through his Paisley-born mother. He was involved in Six Nations squads this year but did not play and was then selected for the summer tour and came off the bench in the non-cap match against the Māori All Blacks. Has an eye for a try and scored 10 last season for Soyaux-Angouleme, including a hat-trick against Nice. | Getty Images
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6. Charlie Moss (Montpellier Hérault)
Can play at lock or blindside flanker and was part of the Scotland Under-20 squad at the World Rugby U20 Championship in the summer, playing in all five games for Kenny Murray’s side and scoring a try against South Africa. Moss, 20, had been at Wasps and London Irish, only for both clubs to fold. He was signed by Montpellier on the strength of his performance for Scotland U18 against France U18 in a Six Nations Festival. Is part of the club’s espoirs (academy) squad. | Getty Images
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7. Ali Price (Montpellier Hérault)
Capped 68 times by Scotland and three times by the Lions, Price is embarking on a fresh challenge in the Top 14. The scrum-half has signed a two-year contract with Montpellier where he will link up with Masibaka and former Scotland team-mate Hogg. Price, 32, has spent the last two years with Edinburgh, helping them reach the Challenge Cup semis and URC play-offs in his final season. Will vie with former France under-20 international Léo Coly for the No 9 jersey at Montpellier. | SNS Group
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8. Jamie Ritchie (USA Perpignan)
A big summer signing for Perpignan and the third Edinburgh player to decamp to France in the close season. Ritchie, 29, enjoyed another impressive campaign in the URC and re-established himself in the Scotland side, playing in all five Six Nations games, starting four of them. Injured his foot in the summer tour defeat by Fiji. The flanker leaves Edinburgh after a decade’s service with the club he joined from school. He described it as an “incredibly hard decision” but felt it was time for a new challenge. Perpignan retained their Top 14 status by the skin of their teeth, beating Grenoble 13-11 away in a relegation play-off. Ritchie will play under the respected coach Franck Azema at the Catalan club. | SNS Group / SRU