But Davies’ untimely injury means Stade have just one specialist scrum-half left standing, in the shape of 21-year-old Benjamin Tardy. It remains to be seen if they’ll dip into Max Guazzini’s ample pockets to jet in a stop-gap addition, but for now Tardy must be relishing the prospect of his unexpected elevation, especially with the next two rounds of the Heineken Cup starting in just under a fortnight’s time.

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Bayonne skipper Pepito Elhorga admitted Sunday’s 13-15 home loss to Stade Toulousain had been “a very big disappointment”. The winger said he hoped the Basques could build on the performance despite going down to their eighth loss in nine league games.

Bayonne certainly need to raise their spirits as their next match could be their most crucial of the season – away to 12^th-placed Bourgoin. Six points currently separate the two sides, meaning that a Bourgoin win could extend that gap to between nine and 11 points – a massive margin given Bayonne have only mustered 25 so far all season.

Stade Toulousain hooker William Servat praised Bayonne for their spirit but said he was pleased with the end result, despite Cedric Garcia’s late penalty attempt threatening to undo their earlier work. “They [Bayonne] need points and they have shown much heart. In these conditions we must be realistic, and we were,” he added.

Winger Farid Sid has become the latest Perpignan player to extend his contract, with the 31-year-old signing on until 2013, with a further option of another year. The former Brive player joins the likes of Nicolas Mas, Maxime Mermoz and Julien Candelon in committing to the Catalans.

Mermoz was one of two Perpignan players forced to leave the field injured during Sunday’s 29-9 defeat at Brive, and the France international could now be a doubtful starter for ‘Les Bleus’ opening Six Nations match against Scotland (on Feb 7).

Mermoz went off with a shoulder injury, although the full extent of the potential damage has not yet been clarified.

Clermont Auvergne may have had a profitable festive season with 10 league points from 10 in their last two games, but 2010 could not have started any worse for their former Scotland captain Jason White.

The 31-year-old flanker suffered a double fracture of his left leg in training on New Year’s day and subsequently underwent surgery on Saturday. He is now expected to be sidelined for at least three months, ruling the 77-times capped international out of this season’s Six Nations.

White had featured as a substitute in all three of Scotland’s November internationals and new coach Andy Robinson said he wished the player “a speedy recovery” after hearing the news.

There was better news for Biarritz, who will welcome back French international Imanol Harinordoquy for their trip to Stade Francais at the weekend. The veteran back row expert has been absent since picking up the injury while playing for France in the November internationals. The Basques also hope to have prop Campbell Johnstone available again, while the knocks picked up by Eduard Coetzee and Ilikena Bolakoro on Sunday are both thought to be minor.

Biarritz won both of their home games over the past five days and travel to Paris having snuck back into the play-off zone ahead of Saturday’s opponents Stade Francais. Just one point currently separates the two sides, making their weekend clash a potential crucial one.

Down in ProD2, meanwhile, former Top 14 side Mont-de-Marsan have been docked five points for unresolved financial matters regarding its budget. The DNACG – the league’s financial watchdog – remains unconvinced the club can cover its costs this season with the contracts of two players – Julien Tilloles and Simon Michaux – still blocked.

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The DNACG previously blocked 12 player licences when it first raised its discontent after investigating the club’s finances in August 2009. Ten of those licences have since been reinstated but following a further meeting in mid-December the DNACG has now further punished Mont-de-Marsan with a five point penalty.