Alfie Barbeary scored a hat-trick as Wasps defeated Biarritz 39-29 at Parc des Sports Aguilera on Friday to secure a berth in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.

George Wacokecoke scored the decisive try in the end as Newcastle Falcons edged out Biarritz Olympique 17-13 in the third round of the European Challenge Cup at Parc des Sports Aguiléra.

Australia international Henry Speight has decided to head to France next season after signing a three-year contract with Top 14 club Biarritz.

Top14's need for Speed, Bath line up Cruden, Sale's SA squad, Vellacott heads North

Sale have announced the signing of New Zealand international lock Bryn Evans on a two-year contract.

Former French international scrum-half Dmitri Yachvili has announced he will retire at the end of the 2013/14 season.

Edinburgh centre Nick De Luca will head for pastures new and join French side Biarritz ahead of the 2015 season.

With the cold snap across France waning, the 18th round of the Top 14 sees a full complement of fixtures as the battle for the play-offs and relegation heats up.

Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne and Toulon edged closer towards confirming their play-off status with victories as the 17th round of the Top 14 was affected by the cold snap that saw the France versus Ireland match postponed this weekend.

Clermont Auvergne kept up the pressure on leaders Toulouse as both sides secured away victories in the sixteenth round of the French Top 14.

The French Top 14 returns this weekend after mixed results in European competitions for its sides.

With Phillipe Saint-André having announced his Six Nations squad on Thursday, the 30 men selected will be out to prove themselves worthy of making France's starting XV against Italy in one month's time.

The curtain fell on 2011 with Toulouse extending their lead at the top of the Top 14 table, after Clermont Auvergne were held up at Lyon. Elsewhere there were surprise victories for Bordeaux-Bègles and Biarritz.