In a report which underlines just why the Top 14 is capable of attracting the best players from all over the world, it has been revealed that 11 of the biggest clubs in Europe in terms of revenue are French.
Reigning Top 14 champions and four-time Heineken Cup winners Toulouse unsurprisingly occupy top spot in the analysis published by the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, having generated £27.4m (€33.5m) during the season before last.
Clermont Auvergne, who lifted the French title last summer, are second on £19.5m (€23.8m), just ahead of England's Leicester Tigers, whose high standing is down to the fact that they have the highest average attendance of Europe's elite.
The three other Aviva Premiership sides in the top 15 are Northampton Saints (11th; £12m), Harlequins (14th; £10.6m) and Gloucester (15th; £9.4m).
Financial information on Irish and Scottish sides was not available but provincial outfits Munster and Leinster ranked fourth and sixth respectively when it came to average match attendance.
Dan Jones, Partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, commented: "The dominance of the French clubs in generating revenue is largely due to greater commercial income, primarily as a result of more lucrative sponsorship deals as opposed to bigger match attendance figures. Increasing revenue generation is critical for top clubs in a fiercely competitive pan-European, and indeed global, market for playing talent."
Indeed, Jones feels that while clubs are aware of the importance of investing in their stadia and establishing greater links within the community to attract more fans, greater attention needs to be paid to rising wage bills.
"The ongoing challenge for all clubs is managing their cost base relative to revenue - a common issue for clubs within other sports," he said. "The growth of clubs' costs throughout the professional era has matched or outstripped the impressive revenue growth and, whilst there is a welcome degree of regulatory control on the largest cost item (player salaries) through the salary cap in England and France, the vast majority of clubs are delivering operating losses year-on-year."
Top 15 Clubs (Revenue)
1. Toulouse
2. Clermont Auvergne
3. Leicester Tigers
4. Stade Francais
5. Racing Metro 92
6. Toulon
7. Brive
8. Montpellier
9. Biarritz Olympique
10. Perpignan
11. Northampton Saints
12. Bayonne
13. Castres Olympique
14. Harlequins
15. Gloucester
Top 15 Clubs (match attendance average)
1. Leicester Tigers
2. Toulouse
3. Clermont Auvergne
4. Munster
5. Bayonne
6. Leinster
7. Toulon
8. Northampton Saints
9. Perpignan
10. Gloucester
11. Harlequins
12. Montpellier
13. La Rochelle
14. Bath
15. Stade Francais