Fourie’s lawyer Frikkie Erasmus was quoted in South Africa’s Cape Times saying he had requested the player be released early from his club contract with the Golden Lions.

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“We haven’t had a response from the Lions yet, but we are confident Jaque will be released to join Western Province,” said Erasmus. The paper also quoted Western Province centre Juan de Jongh saying it was “now official that Jaque Fourie is coming to us next year”.

Clermont Auvergne are bitterly disappointed to have been let down after believing they had secured Fourie’s contract, but attention has now turned to securing a suitable replacement as they seek to strengthen their midfield. A bid to sign Munster’s New Zealander Rua Tipoki was proposed earlier this week, but the 34-year-old spurned the offer after insisting he was sticking to his plan to retire.

Defending Top 14 champions Perpignan are eyeing a possible Heineken Cup quarter-final in Barcelona should they make the competition’s knock-out stages – and earn a ‘home’ draw.

Club president Paul Goze has been keen for Perpignan to play in the Catalan heartland for some seasons now, and believes a Heineken Cup quarter or semi-final would present the perfect opportunity.

“In the southern Catalan region people are very interested in the Heineken Cup in particular because of their soccer culture and the importance placed in the Champions League,” he said.

On the playing front the Catalans will be without captain and France prop Nicolas Mas for up to three weeks after the player had surgery to remove his appendix on Monday.

Stade Francais’ preparations for the new season have been hit by a freak training ground injury to Scotland international Simon Taylor. The second row sustained a broken foot which has now ruled him out for up to six weeks.

“He was about to kick the ball but kicked someone else with his foot,” explained head coach Ewen McKenzie. “It’s a shame because he’s been going well,” he added.

And there was no place in Stade’s weekend squad for troubled centre Mathieu Bastareaud either, although McKenzie stressed that was due to lack of match fitness more than anything else.

“For Mathieu the problem is medical, not sporting,” McKenzie told rugbyrama. “I await the green light from the doctor for him to play.”

McKenzie also gave his backing to the 20-year-old centre after the high-profile controversy which followed his false allegations of being mugged while on tour with France in New Zealand.

“I know the man. He is quiet and young, and there are many people who make mistakes in life. For me it is now ancient history and it is not possible to change history. He is only 20 and it is mentally hard, but this affair concerns the French Federation not Stade Francais,” he added.

Brive’s new captain Alix Popham has spoken of his pride and surprise following the announcement.

The Wales No 8 impressed many during his maiden season last year, especially in the latter stages once he had settled in, and the 29-year-old has now been rewarded with club captaincy.

Popham described it as “a massive honour” and “really special”, especially as he will be leading them on their return to the Heineken Cup – a competition they won in 1997.

The 33-times capped international said he had “enough pigeon French to get by” – although he continues to take lessons – and said he was currently in negotiations to extend his Brive contract by a further two years.

“It was a little difficult when I first arrived here, but that was because I had some niggling injuries in the first three months. But I have really enjoyed it and now we are in the Heineken Cup it’s an exciting place to be,” he told Wales Online.

Popham maintains he still harbours hopes of a Wales recall and said the higher profile of the Heineken Cup could help his cause. He is also “really excited” about the prospect of captaining Brive against his former club the Scarlets in their Pool Six clash.

Unemployed ex-international Nicolas Jeanjean is running out of time to impress Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill after injury prevented him from playing in the club’s French friendlies.

“We are looking for somebody in the back three,” confirmed Cockerill. “Nicolas has got a good profile and has done some good things, but we have to make sure he is the right for us.”