Stade Francais' ongoing financial troubles have now hit the club's players, with the squad agreeing to a 3% wage cut to help ease the problem.

The flamboyant Parisians - who regularly sell-out the 80,000 capacity Stade de France - were surprisingly called before the DNACG before the end of the 2009/10 season, with reports claiming they had a budget shortfall of up to €2.5m.

Stade Francais' unfolding season of woe

Montauban's subsequent bankruptcy may have stolen the headlines, but Stade's summons to the league's financial watchdog was a serious warning to Max Guazzini's club - despite the multi-millionaire owner downplaying any financial problems.

The club's failure to secure either a league play-off slot or qualification for next season's Heineken Cup has further hit them in the pocket, and now it appears that the players have been told to shoulder some of the club's financial burden.

According to Midi Olympique the players agreed to the cut "almost unanimously", with the exceptions said to be "Anglo-Saxon".

Incoming head coach Michael Cheika might be wondering what he has let himself in for after a season in which Stade rid themselves of his two previous incumbents - Ewen McKenzie and Jacques Delmas. Now it seems there is a stringent cost-cutting exercise underway, with part of that ongoing process being a trimming of the club's playing squad, with France prop Sylvain Marconnet the latest to be linked with a move away.

Italian winger Mirco Bergamasco (to Racing-Métro), French hooker Benjamin Kayser (to Castres) and Scottish number eight Simon Taylor (to Bath) have already departed, while Australian former rugby league star Mark Gasnier continues to be linked with a move back home.

Stade's only confirmed arrival to date - apart from new head coach Michael Cheika - is Argentine Martin Rodriquez, and now Marconnet appears on the verge of leaving as well.

Last week he was linked with a possible move to Bayonne, but it now appears that Biarritz is his likely destination once Guazzini has agreed to his release the 34-year-old with a season still left on his contract.

Top 14 Transfers 2010/11

Bayonne, who only escaped relegation to ProD2 due to Montauban's bankruptcy, have confirmed four new signings, to bolster those already of former All Blacks flanker Troy Flavell, SU Agen winger Yohan Huget, Bourgoin fly-half Benjamin Boyet and Montauban duo Julien Audy and Abdelatif Boutaty.

South African Joe Pietersen, 25, has joined from the Stormers, France prop Clément Baiocco from Racing-Métro 92, Australian Cameron Treloar, 29, from Prato as well as Garth Ziegler, 24, from Venice.

The Basques have also brought on board former Dax head coach Thomas Lièvremont - brother of France coach Marc - and president Francis Salagoity hinted there could be more signings yet to come as they continue their squad overhaul.

Racing-Métro head coach Pierre Berbizier has been cited for his complaints about the refereeing following his team's 21-17 defeat by Clermont Auvergne on Friday.

Berbizier lambasted Christophe Berdos for his crucial late decision to yellow card Santiago Dellape, and also subsequently got stuck in to LNR president Pierre-Yves Revol.

Stade Toulousain, Clermont Auvergne and Perpignan all have selection problems at fly-half ahead of their weekend semi-final ties, with only Toulon - who have both Jonny Wilkinson and Felipe Contepomi fit and ready - apparently unconcerned by injuries in the crucial No 10 position.

Stade's Jean-Baptiste Elissalde started at fly-half during Sunday's thrashing of Castres - primarily to give David Skrela a rest - but he picked up a torn hamstring in the process and is now out of the semi-final clash with Perpignan. Frédéric Michalak's season ended weeks ago due to a serious knee injury, and Nicolas Bezy is also unfit, leaving Guy Noves to either risk Skrela - who is being troubled by a thigh niggle - or use a non-specialist in that position, such as centre Florian Fritz. With the Heineken Cup his stated priority it remains to be see who will partner Byron Kelleher against the defending champions.

Perpignan have had some sort of fly-half curse for the best part of two seasons now, but they could at least be able to field a specialist No 10 against Stade after Nicolas Laharrague returned to training this week after fracturing his hand in March.

Clermont, meanwhile, are sweating on the fitness of Australian Brock James after he was forced to sit out training on Monday due to a shoulder injury he sustained against Racing on Friday.

Vern Cotter is already facing up to the potential loss of number eight Elvis Vermeulen and hooker Mario Ledesma for the clash with Toulon.

Bourgoin have finally had some good news on the player front with confirmation that Wessel Jooste - who had been tipped to join Bayonne - and Camille Levast have both signed contract extensions with the club. Jooste has signed until 2013 and Levast to 2012.

Heineken Cup organizers ERC, meanwhile, have clarified the qualification possibilities for next season's tournament.

The fact there will be a guaranteed French winner from the Stade Toulousain-Biarritz final means that the latter will play in next season's tournament whatever the outcome.

The Basques finished seventh in Top 14 - one place outside the six automatic slots - but even if they lose against Stade Toulousain they will still be in the Heineken Cup next season as France will now have seven teams in the competition.

Amlin Challenge Cup finalists Toulon will also be in the Heineken Cup next season - having finished second in Top 14 - but should they beat Cardiff Blues in the final then Gloucester will be the beneficiaries of the final Heineken Cup berth.

Finally, the dates and times of the ProD2 play-offs have been confirmed, with La Rochelle at home to Oyonnax at 7pm on Saturday May 15th and Lyon OU playing host to Pau at 3pm on Sunday May 16th.