Stade Toulousain have dismissed reports that fly-half Frédéric Michalak is due to miss the start of the season due to injury.

French press widely reported on Monday that Michalak had a suspected torn hamstring and was set to be sidelined for three weeks, but L'Equipe now claims the former international is fit to play.

"The club doctors said the player had no injury," the paper reported on Tuesday.

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

Confusion also surrounds the future of sacked Wallaby Lote Tuqiri following reports in Australia that he was about to sign for French Top 14 club Bayonne.

The Australian newspaper claimed the veteran international was “poised” to join imminently, with Bayonne reportedly prepared to match Tuqiri’s ARU contract of $700,000 (Aus) per year. But the player himself dismissed the reports as “just speculation” and denied he was heading to France next week to tie up the deal.

Bayonne, for their part, confirmed they had approached Tuqiri “some months ago” but they had “no contact recently”.

The potential move would certainly make sense to both parties involved and it remains to be seen if any deal can be agreed. Bayonne have been keen to strengthen their back line all summer – being rebuffed in several moves for a high-profile signing – while Tuqiri’s international future looks all but over following the termination of his ARU contract last month.

The 67-Test star was halfway through a five-year contract at the time and his sacking has caused a stir Down Under because no official reason has been given by the ARU. That has led to the player himself threatening court action over his sacking.

Media reports in Australia have suggested the ARU’s decision stems from “inappropriate behaviour in a public place”, with chief executive John O’Neill confirming that Tuqiri had previously been handed a written warning about his future conduct some two years ago.

Back on the pitch, La Rochelle began their pre-season friendlies with an 11-20 defeat by Glasgow Warriors at Issoire on Tuesday evening.

Full-back Romain Lacoste landed two early penalties to give the ProD2 side a 6-0 advantage but Dan Parks narrowed the advantage to three points before setting up Hefin O’Hare for the game’s opening try with a deft cross kick.

The French side regained the lead just before half-time when their forwards rolled over from a driving maul, but Glasgow replied in kind after the interval with Chris Fusaro touching down. Parks added the conversion.

The match remained in the balance to the end before Colin Shaw’s late try sealed victory for the Scottish outfit.

Elsewhere in France, 22-year-old lock Mathieu Julien has signed for RC Narbonne following a successful run out against Romania at the weekend. Fellow ProD2 side Tarbes have also confirmed a new signing, with veteran Argentine prop Jorge Garcia, 31, signing from Pau on a two-year deal.

Colomiers have confirmed that hooker Christophe Laurent, 33, has retired to become the club’s “technical coordinator”. He will work with the club’s youth teams, as well as helping with video analysis of opposing clubs.