The Basques followed up victories over Pau (38-10) and Clermont Auvergne (40-28) by outscoring their illustrious visitors by three tries to two.

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

Toulouse’s former Bourgoin centre Yann David grabbed the opening try of the night after just seven minutes, but Biarritz bounced back through scores from Imanol Harinordoquy (23 minutes), a penalty try (30) and  new signing Ian Taele-Pavihi (37) as they opened up a 19-7 half-time lead.

Maxime Médard touched down for Stade Toulousain shortly after the restart but Biarritz held on for the notable win. The home side featured former England international Iain Balshaw (on the wing) for the first time since his summer move from Gloucester, while Stade Toulousain played rookie Clement Doussain at fly-half in the absence of Frederic Michalak, David Skrela and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde.

The only down side for Biarritz was an injury to veteran international Harinordoquy, which forced him off after 42 minutes. he is now doubtful for next week’s season-opener against Castres following a sprained left ankle.

Stade Toulousain will at least be boosted by the arrival of Samoan prop Census Johnston, who is expected to begin training on Monday following his arrival on a two-year contract.

Defending champions Perpignan made it two home defeats from two as they slipped to a 23-20 loss against Racing-Métro 92 at the Stade Aime Giral.

Winger Julien Candelon and Michel both scored tries for the home side but Racing - who included France captain and new signing Lionel Nallet - replied in kind with scores of their own from young centre Henry Chavancy and former Stade Francais winger Julien Saubade.

The bad news continued for Perpignan – who lost 17-0 to the Brumbies in their previous friendly – with an injury to Romanian hooker Marius Tincu making him a doubtful starter for next weekend’s season opener at home to Bayonne.

Further injuries to Rimas Alvarez-Kairelis and David Marty darkened their mood, although neither was considered serious.

After Friday’s defeat captain for the night Jean-Pierre Perez confessed Perpignan were still off the pace with only a week to the start of the new season. “I am unable to say whether the team will be collectively 50%, 60% or 100% in a week,” he warned.

Montauban ran in three tries as they rallied from 12-0 down to beat Guinness Premiership newcomers Leeds Carnegie 28-12 at the Issoire Tournament, while Vincent Debaty and Aurélien Rougerie both scored tries as Clermont Auvergne beat Glasgow Warriors 12-0 in the tournament’s other match at the Stade Jacques Lavedrine on Friday night. Fly-half Brock James converted the latter effort in front of a 4,000 strong crowd.

Stade Francais completed their pre-season games with a 20-20 draw at Bourgoin – a match marked the playing return of Bourgoin’s South African flanker Wessel Jooste, who missed the tail end of last season following knee surgery.

Elsewhere, Oyonnax beat Fédérale 1 side Chalon-sur-Soane 26-12, while Dax ran in four tries as they overcame a Provale team made up of out-of-contract players 26-7.

Brive unveiled their nine new signings to the press on Thursday, but England and British Lion international Riki Flutey will not be able to play for the Limousin club until August 30.

The former London Wasps star must observe a five-week rest period after the Lions’ summer tour to South Africa, meaning he will miss Brive’s first three games in Top 14 this season – against Montpellier, Stade Toulousain and Clermont Auvergne.

Flutey is one of five England internationals now at Brive - along with Andy Goode, Steve Thompson and fellow new signings Shaun Perry and Jamie Noon - but coach Hugo Mola has defended the club’s recruitment policy.

“Everyone blames us for not recruiting French, but it is a fact of the market,” he said. “We wanted to recruit French players in the back line but they tend to chose clubs like Stade Toulousain, Clermont Auvergne or Stade Francais. We therefore turned to English players who were attracted by the success of our Anglo-Saxons already at the club, like Andy Goode and Steve Thompson. This has a snowball effect and allowed us to attract players of the calibre of Riki Flutey,” explained Mola.

Honorary club president Patrick Sebastien, meanwhile, has promised flowing rugby from Brive this season as they seek to build on last year’s sixth-placed finish.