Club Guide continued...

Montauban
Ground: Stade Sapiac (11,000)
Last season: 8^th
Budget: €10.2m
Summary: The big question for Montauban is how they will fill the coaching void left by the departure of Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers to Castres – together with four players. Former club captain Marc Raynaud has stepped up to take charge, together with assistant Sébastien Calvet, but the former’s lack of experience is sure to be tested in an increasingly competitive league. He will certainly have the respect of his squad, but Dax’s Thomas Lièvremont will testify to the difficulty of switching from player to coach. Six defeats in their final nine league games proved costly as Montauban slipped into mid-table obscurity last season but they remain a formidable force at the compact Stade Sapiac and will be hoping that Fijian winger Vilimoni Delasau can continue to terrorize defences.
Major transfers: Andrew Henderson (Scottish centre signed from Glasgow Warriors); Alejandro Campos (Argentine flanker/ Clermont Auvergne)
Pre-season form: Won 37-3 v RC Narbonne; Lost 26-27 v Brive; Won 28-12 v Leeds Carnegie.
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Montpellier
Ground: Stade Yves du Manoir (15,000)
Last season: 10^th
Budget: €12.8m
Summary: Mediterranean outfit Montpellier struggled for consistency last season in the face of financial worries and off-pitch shenanigans in the boardroom. Stability is what they need more than anything this time around, especially having managed to hang on to two of their three young French internationals - Fulgence Ouedraogo and Francois Trinh-Duc. The post Didier Nourault era continues with Warren Britz, Didier Bes and Jean-Philippe Lacoste in charge of coaching, although former Stade Francais boss Fabien Galthié continues to lurk in the background should the new regime not work out. Consolidation is the watchword emanating from the Montpol camp, with mid-table security the realistic aim for a club still finding its feet at the top table. The loss of Louis Picamoles to Stade Toulousain is likely to be keenly felt.
Major signings: Benjamin Thiéry (French full-back signed from Biarritz); Saklusa Matadigio (Fijian flanker/ FC Auch Gers)
Pre-season form: Lost 3-41 to Stade Toulousain; Won 12-5 v Sale Sharks; Won 24-19 v Leicester Tigers; Won 25-17 v RC Narbonne.
Club page

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

Perpignan
Ground: Stade Aimé Giral (14,593)
Last season: 1^st, Champions – after winning the play-off final 22-13 against Clermont Auvergne.
Budget: €13.0m
Summary: How will the reigning champions cope with defending their first French title in 54 years? Will it be a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’, or will they be bolstered by the confidence of winning? Their lack of activity in the transfer market suggests Jacques Brunel is happy with his playing squad, but remains in stark contract to last year when the Catalans stunned the rugby world by signing Dan Carter. The gamble failed to pay off in terms of strict playing time, but Carter’s presence alone – even on crutches – appeared to have an inspirational affect. They will remain dauntingly powerful in front of their own passionate supporters but could find the added weight of being champions something of a burden on the road as opponents up their game to claim a notable scalp. Squad togetherness was the key to their success last season, especially in the face of a horrendous run of injuries to would-be fly-halves, but the exceptional talent of Maxime Mermoz stood out in a team that clearly plays for each other – an unquantifiable ingredient in every successful side. Their pre-season form has been worrying, with successive home defeats alarming Brunel, and a tricky opening programme to the fixture list will hardly be easing their nerves.
Major signings: None
Pre-season form: Lost 0-17 v AC Brumbies; Lost 20-23 v Racing-Métro 92.
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Racing-Métro 92
Ground: Stade Olympique (12,000)
Last season: Champions of ProD2
Budget: €16.0m
Summary: Any team that signs the likes of Sébastien Chabal, Lionel Nallet and Francois Steyn must be taken seriously, especially when allied with the coaching skills of Pierre Berbizier and an already impressive squad that ran away with the ProD2 title last season. President Jacky Lorenzetti clearly has the finance to back his grandiose ambition but Top 14 will still be a major step up. A pre-season away win at champions Perpignan gave further note of their quality and they are unlikely to struggle as Toulon did last season following promotion. Berbizier has targeted survival as goal No 1, but an outside shot at the play-offs is not impossible to foresee, especially if Nallet and Chabal remain motivated and injury free. Veteran All Black Andrew Mehrtens should finally grace Top 14 as he deputizes at fly-half until Steyn arrives, although it remains possible the multi-talented South African could yet slot in at either centre or full-back. Their opening match pits them against fellow newcomers SCA Albi and should provide an early indication of what to expect from the capital’s second Top 14 club.
Major signings: Sébastien Chabal (French lock signed from Sale Sharks); Lionel Nallet (French lock, and captain/ Castres); Jacques Cronje (South African flanker/ Biarritz); Francois Steyn (South African utility back/ Natal Sharks); Julien Saubade (French winger/ Stade Francais); Epi Taione (Tongan centre/ Harlequins)
Pre-season form: Lost 19-33 v Toulon; Won 23-20 v Perpignan.
Club page

Stade Francais
Ground: Stade Jean Bouin (12,000) – although five league games are scheduled for the Stade de France (80,000)
Last season: 4^th, lost in the play-off semi-finals to Perpignan.
Budget: €21.0m
Summary: Establishing his first-choice starting XV will be coach Ewen McKenzie’s initial challenge following a busy summer in the transfer market and a disappointing campaign in 2008/9. An opening run of nine successive wins hinted at great things to come, but Stade’s fallibility in big matches was exposed time and again, and they ended the season with seven defeats in their final 10 matches. Former rugby league star Mark Gasnier should continue to prosper after an impressive maiden season, and the addition of half a dozen internationals will surely sharpen competition for places. Much has been (in England anyway) of the capture of flanker James Haskell, but the real transfer gems could be French duo Benjamin Kayser and Julien Dupuy. The latter shouldn’t lack for service behind a possible back three of Sergio Parisse, Juan Manuel Leguizamon and Mauro Bergamasco (or Haskell), but the loss of Juan-Martin Hernandez to Natal Sharks is a blow. ‘El Mago’ clearly became disenchanted towards the end of his Parisian stay, but his boot remained true and Lionel Beauxis will have to step up to the plate this season if Stade are to provide a serious title challenge.
Major signings: James Haskell (England flanker signed from London Wasps); Tom Palmer (England lock/ London Wasps); Benjamin Kayser (French hooker/ Leicester Tigers); Julien Dupuy (French scrum-half/ Leicester Tigers); Hugo Southwell (Scottish full-back/ Edinburgh); Rayno Gerber (South African prop/ Bulls); Ollie Phillips (England sevens captain/ Newcastle Falcons)
Pre-season form: Won 24-21 v FC Grenoble; Drew 20-20 v Bourgoin.
Club page

Stade Toulousain
Ground: Stade Ernest Wallon (19,500)
Last season: 2^nd, lost in play-off semi-final to Clermont Auvergne.
Budget: €17.0m
Summary: Motivation should not be a problem for the ‘rouge et noirs’ following a season of frustration that left them empty handed and exposed. Semi-final defeat in the play-offs (to Clermont) and quarterfinal elimination in the Heineken Cup (to Cardiff Blues) was hard to take for veteran coach Guy Noves, and rugby’s equivalent to Sir Alex Ferguson has recruited shrewdly in the off-season. A trio of young French internationals have arrived to freshen things up – Yann David, Louis Picamoles and Yoann Maestri – and the 17-times champions are desperate not to end another campaign without silverware. The massive presence of Fabien Pelous will undoubtedly be missed following his retirement but more than enough quality remains throughout the star-studded squad. The only real question mark is over the fly-half position, something that proved costly last year with injuries and poor form leading to a constant rotation between David Skrela, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Frédéric Michalak. The early signs are that it remains an unsolved conundrum, especially with Skrela already ruled out until Christmas.
Major signings: Yann David (French centre signed from Bourgoin); Louis Picamoles (French flanker/ Montpellier); Census Johnston (Samoan prop/ Saracens); Yoann Maestri (French lock/ Toulon)
Pre-season form: Won 41-3 v Montpellier; Won 43-17 v SCA Albi; Lost 14-22 v Biarritz.
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Toulon
Ground: Stade Félix Mayol (17,000)
Last season: 9^th
Budget: €16.5m
Summary: There is simply no comparison between Toulon circa 2009 and the team that struggled to avoid relegation last season. President Mourad Boudjellal has again dug deep to fund a huge recruitment campaign, although this time under the wise stewardship of new head coach Philippe Saint-André. Indeed, it is Saint-André’s appointment which could prove the greatest coup, despite the world’s media attention being focused on England’s World Cup winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson. The latter’s form and fitness will undoubtedly prove crucial to the club’s fortunes, but the influence of Saint-André will underpin everything Toulon do. Is predecessor Tan Umaga is now the backs coach and remains hugely influential on the continuing development of Australian rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams, who could prove an explosive asset with good service this season.  Club captain Joe van Niekerk was arguably the league’s most consistent performer in 2008/9 and while the acquisition of 17 new faces is bound to lead to a bedding in period, Toulon’s stated aim of a top six finish is not unrealistic. Players of the quality of Sébastien Bruno, Rory Lamont and Juan Martin Lobbe have all followed Saint-André from Sale Sharks, while hardened pros like Pierre Mignoni, Kris Chesney, Joe El Abd, Jamie Robinson and Tom May will add a tough streak to a side which too easily succumbed last year. The signing of powerful winger Christian Loamanu could also prove inspirational, while cover for Wilkinson has been secured in the shape of Argentina’s Felipe Contepomi.
Major signings: Jonny Wilkinson (England fly-half signed from Newcastle Falcons); Sébastien Bruno (French hooker/ Sale Sharks); Pierre Mignoni (French scrum-half/ Clermont Auvergne); Felipe Contepomi (Argentine fly-half/ Leinster); Jamie Robinson (Welsh centre/ Cardiff Blues); Tom May (England utility back/ Newcastle Falcons); Rory Lamont (Scottish full-back/ Sale Sharks); Juan Martin Lobbe (Argentine back row/ Sale Sharks); Tonga Lea’aetoa (Tongan prop/ London Irish)
Pre-season form: Won 9-3 v Brive; Won 33-19 v Racing-Métro 92; Won 20-6 v AC Brumbies.
Club page

Opening Round of fixtures:
Toulon v Stade Francais (14/08/09, 20.45)
SCA Albi v Racing-Metro 92 (15/08/09, 16.00)
Biarritz v Castres (15/08/09, 16.00)
Bourgoin v Clermont Auvergne (15/08/09, 16.00)
Montauban v Stade Toulousain (15/08/09, 16.00)
Perpignan v Bayonne (15/08/09, 16.25)
Brive v Montpellier (15/08/09, 20.35)