Troubled French international Mathieu Bastareaud made his rugby comeback on Saturday, but not for Stade Francais’ 1^st XV against FC Grenoble. Instead, the hulking centre took part in a beach rugby tournament against Oyonnax in Tignes as he continues his mental and physical rehabilitation.

His teammates, meanwhile, narrowly overcame Grenoble 24-21 in their first pre-season friendly, with tries from Geoffroy Messina, Simon Taylor, Guillaume Bousses and Romain Raine.

Top 14 Table / Top 14 Transfers / ProD2 Transfers / Top 14 Fixtures 2009/10 / Pre-season friendlies

Club president Max Guazzini has also shed further light on the departure of Juan Martin Hernandez, following the Argentine’s transfer to Natal Sharks.

“There was a common dislike,” he told L’Equipe. “Juan Martin is an exceptional player but we can recognize that that in 2008/09 he did not have the season of his life, so I let him make his own choice.”

Guazzini also denied the club were in any sort of financial trouble. “I do not know where this rumour came from. This season our budget is €21m, an increase of 6% on last season. He further announced that Stade hoped to hold their Heineken Cup match against Ulster at the Stade du Roi-Baudoin in Brussels, Belgium.

French international Imanol Harinordoquy says Biarritz’s aim this season is to make the play-offs – extended to include the top six finishers in 2009/10.

The veteran No 8 said the club had also targeted a Heineken Cup quarter-final slot as they seek to make amends for their disappointing return in 2008/9, when they had to fight just to make European qualification.

“I am convinced we can do better than last season but we must take it step by step. We would love to see the beautiful days again and play in the [Top 14’s] final phase,” he told L’Equipe.

Biarritz have won both of their pre-season friendlies to date, overcoming Pau 38-10 on Tuesday and Clermont Auvergne 40-28 on Friday, after recovering from a 15-28 half-time deficit.

The only down side for Biarritz was an injury to new signing Lionel Faure, with the France prop forced off after just 20 minutes following a knee in his back.

Clermont’s Thibault Privat was at a loss to explain Les Jaunards’ second-half capitulation. “I do not know what happened,” he said. “We were far ahead at half time and perhaps we subconsciously relaxed.”

One explanation is that last year’s runners-up are still off the pace having been the second last club to resume training, although new Scottish signing Jason White – who scored a try o his debut – made no excuses.

“We won the physical battle in the first half, Biarritz won it in the second half, that’s it,” he said of the 33-0 shut out after the break. Fellow newbie Morgan Parra said Clermont had failed to keep the ball well enough in the second half, and that it was something the players would have to address over the coming weeks.

The international scrum-half, who joined from Bourgoin in the summer, was more concerned with the shoulder which he fractured at the end of last season, and which forced him to sit out France’s tour Down Under.

The 20-year-old admitted his first outing back had been “difficult” and that he experienced soreness in his shoulder, although nothing to worry about.

Montpellier’s Fulgence Ouedraogo says he is committed to the club despite admitting it faces another tough season in Top 14. The highly rated French international received several offers to move clubs during the summer but eventually opted to remain with Montpellier.

“I am very committed to this city. I grew up here and I love this place,” he told Midi Olympique. “In sporting terms the potential of this team was also an important element in my decision, I have faith. I am well settled here, I have my friends here and I know I can still get better while evolving with the club,” he added.