School may be out, but not for Stade Francais new boys James Haskell and Tom Palmer, who are currently enrolled in extra French to help them settle properly at the Paris club.

The English duo, both signed from Wasps, are among a phalanx of British stars set to light up Top 14 next season, and acquiring passable French is a minimum requirement for any ex-pat wanting to make a decent fist of things.

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They may be able to get by on the training ground and among fellow “etrangers”, but on-pitch communication is solely in French during the heat of match-day battles. That is why Brive give their British players complimentary French lessons, and Stade Francais’ Australian coach Ewen McKenzie expects the same from his latest intake. In a sink or swim message, he underlined the necessity to get up to pace – at least in basic French – as quickly as possible.

“Last year I didn’t put too much pressure on but that will not be the case this season,” he warned. McKenzie himself is already fluent in French.

Palmer has been taking French lessons ever since securing his lucrative move to Stade Francais, something that should stand him good stead alongside fellow newbies Haskell and Scottish international Hugo Southwell.

“I already read French without too much problem – I knew some words but before getting the rugby terms right, it is just for my integration in daily life that I want to speak French as quickly as possible,” the England international told L’Equipe.

He has been having two hours of French lessons per week for the past four months and admits it has given him an essential grounding. “For the spirit of the team, speaking the language of the country where you play is paramount,” added Palmer.

Clermont Auvergne are confident that Springbok centre Jaque Fourie will complete his switch from the Golden Lions, despite the player himself expressing doubts about the move.

According to the Top 14 runners-up Fourie - who starred in the recent series win against the British and Irish Lions – made a verbal agreement to join them some months back. While that may not be binding they remain hopeful it will prove persuasive enough for the deal to go through, probably some time in November.

“There is an agreement between the club, the player and his agents,” said Clermont vice-president Jacques Pineau. “I think his arrival is going to happen,” he told L’Equipe.

The 26-year-old had earlier cast doubt on the move by saying he was unsure where he would be playing next season. That wavering was added further credence when Manie Reyneke, chief executive of Fourie’s current club the Golden Lions, said he would do “everything possible” to ensure the player honoured his current contract – which is due to run until October 2010.

Clermont’s Kiwi coach Vern Cotter described the latest development in the ongoing transfer saga as “fairly positive news”, with the player now expected to move to France at the conclusion of the current Tri-Nations series.

Clermont also remain hopeful of retaining the services of France winger Julien Malzieu despite the player’s contract running out at the end of the 2009/10 season. Malzieu said “normal dialogue” was ongoing over a new deal, although he remains open to other offers.

“I feel good here, I have my friends and my family close by, but if we do not find common ground and I have interesting proposals elsewhere I am not married to the club,” he warned.

Clermont were the last Top 14 club back into pre-season training, with coach Cotter opting to give his players an extended break after their play-off final heartache against Perpignan.

New signing Lionel Faure appreciates that time is limited, especially compared to Sale Sharks, his previous club in England. “The difference is that here we must digest all this in a shorter time. This means we have little time to eliminate the deficiencies. We must work quickly and well,” he said this week.

Fellow newcomer Willie Wepener said it was vastly different to his previous experiences in South Africa. “It is a big change but a good change. The training is both short and intense and I like it,” he said.

The heat has certainly been on down in Biarritz this week, where the temperature was measured at a searing 39C during one particularly sweaty workout.

Over in neighbouring Bayonne there was good news for injured hooker Arnaud Heguy, who is set to return to training a month ahead of schedule after a knee ligament operation. He now hopes to be available for selection in November.

France international Sebastien Chabal has been given the green light to make his Racing-Metro 92 debut on the opening day of the season. The iconic lock injured his left calf playing for France against New Zealand on June 20 but will be free to play for Racing in their opening fixture (away to fellow newbie SCA Albi) after completing a statutory eight-week break from competitive games.

Over at Stade Francais there is still no sign of troubled centre Mathieu Bastareaud following his hospitalisation on psychiatric grounds. “There is no news,” said flanker Pierre Rabadan this week. “We don’t wish to comment on him, there are too many things to say. We just want him to recover and play as soon as possible with us,” he told AFP.

A date has yet to be set for an FFR disciplinary committee hearing into the players’ actions while on tour in New Zealand.

Brive’s coaches and staff spent three days at CNR Marcoussis – the French national team’s training centre - this week as part of their pre-season build up. The former Heineken Cup champions are back in Europe’s premier competition this season after finishing sixth and are hoping to consolidate on last year’s performances following their acquisition of players such as England internationals Riki Flutey, Jamie Noon and Shaun Perry.

One of the decisions taken during their stay on the outskirts of Paris was to announce there will be three captains at the club next season, with backrow forwards Antonie Claassen, Simon Azoulai and Wales’ Alex Popham getting the nod.

In a separate development the club has also been sold by its multi-millionaire owner Daniel Derichebourg, although he will continue to provide financial backing for the ambitious Limousin outfit.

Derichebourg has sold the club to a limited public company called Brive Rugby SAS, according to the newspaper Montagne, with current president Patrick Sebastien becoming an honorary president. Jean-Jacques Bertrand will be the new president of Brive Rugby SAS.

The report said the current coaching team and playing squad would be unaffected by the new arrangement.

Finally, Toulon's Welsh signing Jamie Robinson says the club is targetting a top six finish after their summer spending spree.

"It's a new team and there are a lot of new players so it'll be very difficult at the start, but we're all very excited to be here," he told the BBC.

The 29-year-old international centre impressed locals by giving his first press conference in French - following the lead of fellow new signing Jonny Wilkinson - but knows he must fight hard for a place in the starting XV.