Bristol Rugby’s willingness to show their financial muscle has been exposed again this weekend according to an interview with a French rugby club owner.
In an interview from the Mail on Sunday, Montpellier’s billionaire owner Mohed Altra, who tries to invest in Gloucester earlier this year, gave an eye-opening glance behind the scenes of the current rugby transfer market.
Talking about the deal to bring All Black fly-half Aaron Cruden to the Top 14 club, Altrad said: ‘We signed Aaron Cruden because he proved something with the All Blacks.
“We offered him €800,000 [£715,000] a year. His agent told me Bristol had offered more than €1million, yet he chose to join us.”
In the end, Bristol signed 31 cap Ireland international Ian Madigan from French side Bordeaux Begles.
Bristol Rugby commented on the suggestion, saying it is not within their policy t to comment on speculation surrounding recruitment.