This season's elongated French league campaign could leave Scotland under strength for their tour to New Zealand next June.
Thanks to the World Cup the French Championship does not enter its knock out stages until mid June with the final scheduled for Paris on an incredibly late July 15th.
With six players in the Scotland squad based in France it is not unrealistic to assume that Ian McGeechan could be short handed when he heads to the Southern Hemisphere.
Brive, with Gregor Townsend, Tom Smith and Steve Brotherstone, Narbonne, with Bryan Redpath and Stuart Reid and Bourgoin, with James McLaren, would all want their players to stay for the knock out stages, which comprise the top 12 clubs.
Therefore Scotland are likely to travel overseas for a third successive season with an understrength squad.