The launch of the 2012/13 French Top 14 season may still be over a month away, but there has been a raft of activity in the transfer merry-go-round as the cash-rich clubs set about building championship contending squads for the months ahead. We take a look at the ins and outs ofFrance's premier rugby competition.
Unsurprisingly, defeated finalists Toulon have been the busiest side, bolstering their 'galacticos' with no less than ten players, while nineteen left the Mediterranean club as Bernard Laporte signals his intentions with a host of big name signings. There will be no shortage in depth at loose-head, with international props Gethin Jenkins and Andrew Sheridan vying for position alongside the experienced Carl Hayman in the front-row. The wise old head of Nick Kennedy will fill the gaps left by the wiser and older heads of Kris Chesney and Worcester-bound Dean Schofield while an already strong back-row is further bolstered by the physical presence of Castres captain Chris Masoe, and Welshman Gareth Delve.
Laporte hasn't just focused on the engine room in strengthening his squad. Frédéric Michalak returns from an impressive spell in the southern hemisphere with the Sharks alongside fellow French international Maxime Mermoz, who will add some much needed creativity to the Toulon midfield. Finally, Guy and Delon Armitage depart London Irish to join up with brother and Top 14 player of the season Steffon.
While Toulon have gone all-out in an attempt to find that extra step, their conquerors in the Top 14 final Toulouse will stick with a more settled squad for the 2012/13 campaign. Yoann Huget's return to the club he began his career at, and Vasil Kakovin “ named in the Midi Olympique Top 14 dream team last season “ are the only two signings of note for the nineteen-times champions, while a number of players depart, most notably veteran warrior William Servat, who retires and takes up a coaching position at the club he spent 14 years at as a player.
Clermont Auvergne have been the least active side in the off-season, with just three new faces for Les Jaunards announced so far. Clermont “ who along withToulouse finished well clear of the pack in the regular season “ adhere to the ethos of quality not quantity in their signings. Damien Chouly was one of a small number ofPerpignan players to end the season with their reputations enhanced after a nightmare campaign for the Catalans, but switches to Clermont to strengthen an ageing back-row. Big-hitting Blues back Benson Stanley adds his physicality to an already physical midfield, and after a season at Western Force, fellow Super Rugby man Napolioni Nalaga returns to a back-line as dangerous as any in the northern hemisphere.
The 2011/12 was a season to forget for the 2009 champions Perpignan as they spent much of the season flirting with relegation, including a run which saw just one win in twelve Top 14 matches. As a result, there is a complete overhaul at the Stade Aimé Giral, with eighteen players shown the door. The most notable departees are the aforementioned Damien Chouly and Maxime Mermoz, and full-back Jérome Porical, who heads to Stade Français. Despite the losses of some stand-out players, there is an abundance of talent heading to the Catalan club. Most notably is Waikato Chiefs prop Sona Taumalolo, the Tongan wrecking-ball has been one of the stars of the 2012 Super Rugby season, and will be a more than adequate replacement for the retiring Perry Freshwater.
Another star of the 2009 campaign to retire is Olivier Olibeau, and he is replaced by Welsh second-row Luke Charteris and Samoan Daniel Leo. The back-row also receives a face-lift, even with the departure of Chouly. Hard-hittingScotlandinternational Alasdair Strokosch joins thePerpignanranks, alongsideGloucesterteam-mate Luke Narraway, who leaves Kingsholm after 10 years at the club. The problems at scrum-half persist “ deals for both Tomas O'Leary and Mike Blair fell through, and as of yet there has been no solution to one of Perpignan's more outstanding weaknesses.Munster's Lifeimi Mafi is a replacement for Mermoz in the midfield, but new coach Marc Delpoux has focused on creating a platform for his current group of backs to work from.
Another side whose 2011/12 campaign was one to forget was five-times champions Biarritz, who spent more time in the relegation zone than out of it. Coach Laurent Rodriguez has opted against wholesale changes, perhaps given thatBiarritz were one of the better sides in the league when scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili was fit. Young Welsh international wing Aled Brew joins from the Newport-Gwent Dragons, and he is joined by countryman Ben Broster, replacing the legendary Sylvain Marconnet, who is one of a number of players to retire at the Basque club.
In the capital, Stade Français and Racing Mètro were nearly inseparable last season, with the Sky and Whites coming out on top. Stade's international hooker Dimitri Szarzewski makes the short journey to rivals Racing after eight seasons atFrance's second most successful side, while Stade fill the hole left by the 29 year old with young Cheetahs hooker Michael van Vuuren. Luc Ducalon strengthens the Racing front row, while versatile half-back Mathieu Bélie joins with the departure of Nicolas Durand toToulon. A notable departee is Frans Steyn, the Springbok returns to his homeland with the Sharks.
Elsewhere, Agen sign Cardiff Blues full-back Ben Blair, the reliable South African Scott Spedding switches from relegated Brive to survivors Bayonne, and Bordeaux-Bègles “ the side with the Top 14's lowest budget bring in a host of foreign players, including the giant back-row Sisa Koyamaibole.
Despite failing to reach the heights of 2011, Montpellier had another strong season and look to build upon their progress with a number of signings. A young, new front row in the shape of Vincent Pelo, Yvan Watremez and Charles Géli is complemented with the signings of Scotland international Johnnie Beattie, and two former Bath backs in Matt Carraro and Shontayne Hape. Castres capture Worcester's small-but-explosive wing Marcel Garvey, and Hurricanes fly-half Daniel Kirkpatrick. Toulon's Christophe Samson in joined in the pack by Ulster's Pedrie Wannenburg, and Antonie Claassen, who is one of a number of players to leave relegated Brive. Despite dropping to the Pro D2, Brive have announced the signing of the Edinburgh and Scotland scrum-half, Mike Blair, signalling their intentions to make an immediate return to the Top 14. Likewise Lyon have been busy in securing signings to propel them back into the top flight “ L'homme des Cavernes, Sebasian Chabal committed to Les Loups back in April, and has since been joined by Racing team-mate Lionel Nallet, and Welsh hooker Huw Bennett.
Pro D2 champions Grenoble prepare for their first season in the top-flight since 2005 with the signing of experiencedPerpignan fly-half Nicolas Laharrague. The Frenchman had a difficult season in 2011/12, but the newly-promoted side will look to his experience as they seek to avoid relegation this season. Other new faces at the Stade Lesdiguieres include anotherPerpignan man Rudi Coetzee,Toulouse's Shaun Sowerby and Brumbies hooker Anthony Hergarty.Grenoble will hope to replicate the success of last season's play-off winnerBordeaux, who managed to stay up without the larger budgets of the teams around them, including the winners of last year's Pro D2, Lyon.
Stade Montois, better known as Mont-de-Marsan, return to the Top 14 after three years away via the play-offs, and will hope to make a better fist of it than their last effort, which saw them finish bottom after just one season in the Top 14. 33 year old Fijian Seru Rabini is the pick of their pre-season signings, along withMontpellier hooker Joan Caudullo and youngToulon scrum-half Laurent Magnaval joining on loan.
