Quote: "You don't think that money would be better spent on development officers, community coaches, community clubs, coach and club education, and marketing?'"
I think that the press and interest in the game generated by such signings will likely earn us more money than we put in, allowing those things to be paid for.
Think about the press a Catalans side with (for instance) Freddy Michalak, Aurelien Rougerie and Mathieu Bastareud in will get, and the increased attendances/sponsorship attachments that will become available to them with those names.
Similarly, a Five Nations competition where Scotland aren't whipping boys. Or a London side that suddenly has a host of well-known southern players in.