One of the main aspects of discussion surrounding Jonathan Sexton’s impending move to France is how he will cope with a far more gruelling schedule.

While playing under the auspices of the IRFU, the national coaching team control the number of provincial games played by our top stars.

But outside the IRFU’s umbrella Sexton will not receive that level of protection.

Yesterday Ireland beat Wales 30 - 22 in a thrilling opening Six Nations match. The Welsh have suffered an exodus to Gallic soil in recent years so how have some of their exiles fared when it comes to fitness and form…

Luke Charteris

The lock missed yesterday’s game and won’t be making an appearance at this year’s tournament after suffering ruptured knee ligaments for his club side Perpignan during a win over Montpellier just before Christmas.

Charteris who joined the French-Catalan team in May, is also likely to miss this summer’s Lions Tour to Australia.

Perpignan did free Charteris for Wales’ end of year tests, but prior to his injury he had already played 11 matches for his club in the first four months of the Top 14 season, three more matches than Jonathan Sexton played in the RaboDirect Pro 12 during the entirety of last season. 

James Hook

Charteris’ Wales and Perpignan team-mate James Hook has played even more club games this season, clocking in 13 appearances in the Top 14, from his fly-half berth. The previous season he only made the same number of appearances due to the fact that he was away for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in the early parts of that campaign.

However the fly half is available for the 2013 Six Nations and was on the bench for yesterday’s match. He came on in the 73rd minute for Dan Biggar.

Lee Byrne

The Clermont full-back was named in Wales’ squad for the Six Nations although he did not make the bench for yesterday’s match. Byrne moved to France ahead of the 2011-12 season but in the first half of this campaign he has only amassed seven Top 14 appearances because of a back injury picked up in December. Comparatively Sexton made eight appearances in the Pro 12 during the whole of 2011/12.

Mike Philips

Bayonne scrum-half Mike Philips started yesterday’s match. He has not been starved of game-time at club level in the last four months, having made 15 appearances, including 10 starts.

But Philips has suffered personal problems while in France and was handed a one match ban by his club for off-field misdemeanours in September.

Gethin Jenkins

The prop was in yesterday’s starting line-up and made his move to France last summer. The 32-year-old triple Grand Slam winner has made 11 appearances for Toulon, but his form as dropped and he has warmed the bench for most of his time there, starting just twice.

©INPHO/Billy Stickland