Toulon’s build-up to the new campaign is gathering momentum following their 33-19 home win against newly promoted (and fellow big-spenders) Racing-Métro 92.

England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson was given the night off as Philippe Saint-Andre’s team made it two wins from two, following last weekend’s 9-3 victory over Brive.

English flanker Joe El Abd scored his first try for Toulon since his summer move from Bristol, with Australian scrum-half Matt Henjak also going over for a score. Fly-half Sebastien Fauqué added four penalties and the home side were further awarded a penalty try. Their victory was based on forward domination as they eased into a 25-3 lead at the half-time interval.

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England’s Dan Scarborough and Scotland’s Craig Smith both touched down for Racing, with former Montpellier prop Clement Baiocco grabbing the visitors’ third try.

Toulon’s Georgian prop Davit Kubriashvili and Racing’s former Harlequins centre Epi Taione were both handed yellow cards as 10,000 fans crammed in to the Stade Felix Mayol for an entertaining clash.

The result keeps up Toulon’s winning start and also puts down an early marker for the Top 14 match between these two sides on August 22.

That clash had originally been scheduled to be played at Olympique Marseille’s Stade Velodrome – with it’s 57,000 capacity – but a stage collapse which killed two workers before a recent Madonna concert has now forced it to be switched back to the Stade Mayol.

Next up for Wilko & Co is the ACT Brumbies on Thursday, with the England fly-half in line to make his second appearance for Toulon. The touring Australian side will arrive with renewed confidence after beating defending Top 14 champions Perpignan 17-0 at the Stade Aime Giral on Friday night.

The Catalans, who were missing a host of internationals, struggled to break through a determined Brumbies defence, with the Australians holding out to claim their first win in three attempts on their four-match tour.

ECC runners-up Bourgoin, who beat the Brumbies 20-12 last week, made it two wins from two as they dispatched ProD2’s Lyon OU 27-0.

New signings Albert Vuli-Vuli and Piet Van Zyl both scored tries, with lock Camille Levast and winger Jean-Francois Coux also touching down – the latter for his second try in two games as Bourgoin continue to impress.

Another team looking sharp, although less surprisingly so, is south-west giants Stade Toulousain, who continued their winning start with a 43-17 victory at Top 14 newcomers SCA Albi on Friday night.

The match was notable for Louis Picamoles’ first outing for Stade since joining from Montpellier, and there was none of the controversy that continues to rage following last week’s 41-3 home win (against Montpellier).

Stade are in hot water and awaiting the outcome of a league investigation into that match after fielding eight players who had not completed their statutory five-week rest between seasons.

Only a last-minute intervention from head coach Guy Noves prevented the game being cancelled – despite the presence of a large crowd – but players union Provale are unhappy that the agreed rest period has been contravened.

A joint meeting between Provale and the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) was convened in midweek, with the outcome expected to be announced with 10 days.

Stade are facing a substantial fine for flouting the rules, with reports suggesting they could be forced to cough up €15,000 for each ineligible player – a total that could amount to a costly €120,000.

Brive bounced back from last week’s defeat at Toulon to beat Montauban 27-26 at home, in a match played in three periods of 30 minutes.

New Kiwi signing Viliame Waqaseduadua scored two tries on debut for the club, with the former Waikato Chiefs winger touching down in the 12^th and 26^th minutes of the second period.

Guillaume Namy and Arnaud Pic also scored for the hosts, with Luciano Orquera and Mathias Attayi providing the kicking extras. Montauban’s lone try came courtesy of Antoine Battut.

The only bad news for Brive was the sight of England centre Jamie Noon limping off, although initial reports suggest it was not a serious injury.