Bayonne, Brive and Toulon all began their pre-season campaigns with victory at the weekend as the start of the 2010/11 campaign (on August 13) continues to draw ever nearer.

Top 14 Fixtures 2010/11

Bayonne were the first team in action as they beat Bourgoin 43-24 at the Stade Jean Dauger on Friday night. The hosts ran in six tries, with former All Black flanker Troy Flavell getting the scoring underway when he touched down 34 minutes into his first game for the Basques since joining from Japanese club side Mitsubishi Dynaboars.

Pierre Bernard added a second try just before the interval before Yohan Huget - another new arrival - got on the scoresheet two minutes after the restart. Recently capped French centre Lionel Mazars scored Bayonne's fourth, with Rémy Martin and former Montauban scrum-half Julien Audy adding the others.

Former Bourgoin fly-half Benjamin Boyet landed a penalty and conversion against his old team, with Cédric Garcia (two convs) and Audy (two convs) adding the remaining points.

Bourgoin scored three tries in reply, with Jean-François Coux, Alexander Dumoulin and Argoud all going over, while Sébastien Laloo added three conversions and Alberto Di Bernardo a penalty.

Bourgoin's defeat was compounded by news that the ever-watchful DNACG has suspended four player licences until the club can guarantee an extra €350,000 to cover its wage bill for the 2010/11 season. The players affected are new signings Silvère Tian, Alex Tulou, Ruuan Du Preez and Brando Va'aulu.

Club president Gaston Maulin acknowledged the DNACG's latest missive but said he remained confident that Bourgoin would find the necessary cash in time for all four to play in their opening league game.

The DNACG's decision follows a previous ruling that the club be relegated - which they overturned on appeal to the FFR - and has unhappy echoes of last season when they had 12 player licences blocked on the eve of their first league game.

   Top 14 Transfers 2010/11

Brive managed five tries as they cantered to a convincing 33-7 away win at ProD2's Aurillac. Summer signings Benoit Cabello (from Clermont) and Vasil Kakovin (from Chambéry) both grabbed tries, while former Stade Toulousain youngster Mathieu Belie kicked four conversions on his first outing for the Limousin club.

Toulon were also victorious as they outscored Lyon OU four tries to two at the Stade Félix Mayol on Saturday evening. Former Clermont lock Christophe Samson got Toulon's first try, with Saimone Taumoepeau, Romain Barthelemy and Tussac also going over. Clement Marienval kicked two out of three conversions, while England international Tom May - playing at fly-half in the absence of Jonny Wilkinson and Felipe Contepomi - kicked two penalties and a conversion.

Toulon - who eventually won 30-18 - have now headed to the Alps for a three-day training camp as the ready themselves for the season ahead.

Top 14 newcomers SU Agen were also easy winners as they beat RC Narbonne 26-5. Last season's ProD2 champions scored four tries - including one apiece from former Biarritz duo  Valentin Courrent and Mosese Moala - but their performance was overshadowed by Rupeni Caucaunibuca's continuing absence.

The veteran Fijian winger has failed to return for pre-season training so far, prompting the club to suspend his contract. A statement reiterated that Caucaunibuca remains an Agen player, adding that the suspension was a 'precautionary measure'.

The club's coaching staff are also reportedly unhappy at Caucaunibuca's current physical condition.  

La Rochelle, Top 14's other newcomers, were held 17-17 at home by ProD2 side Grenoble as both sides scored two tries each.

Pre-Season friendlies:

July 23
Bayonne 43 Bourgoin 24

July 24
Aurillac 7 Brive 33
Toulon 30 Lyon OU 18
SU Agen 26 RC Narbonne 5

July 25
La Rochelle 17 Grenoble 17

July 29
Lyon OU v Stade Francais (Tignes, 18.30)

July 30
La Rochelle v Stade Toulousain (Mazamet, 19.30)
SU Agen v Brive (Sainte-Foy la Grande, 18.30)
Bourgoin v Clermont Auvergne (Nyon, 19.00)
Toulon v Racing-Métro 92 (Stade Félix Mayol, 20.40)
Pau v Castres (Hagetmau, 18.30)
Montpellier v Carcassonne (Pézenas, 18.30)
Perpignan v RC Narbonne (Aimé Giral, 19.45)
Aix-en-Provence v Nice (Aix, 20.00)

August 1
SCA Albi v Béziers (Millau, 18.00)
Rovigo v Colomiers (Millau, 20.00)

August 2
Mont-de-Marsan v Bordeaux (Soustons, 19.00)

August 3
Bourgoin v Sale Sharks

August 4
Bayonne v Saracens (Stade Jean Dauger, 18.00)
Montpellier v Aurillac (Lacaune, 18.30)

August 5
Toulon v Stade Francais (Stade Félix Mayol, 20.40)
Stade Toulousain v Bourgoin (Saint-Affrique, 20.00)
SCA Albi v Rovigo (Saint Affrique, 20.00)

August 6
Biarritz Olympic v La Rochelle (Aguiléra, 19.00)
Brive v Leicester Tigers (Stade Amédée Domenech, 20.00)
Grenoble v Bourgoin (Grenoble, 19.00)
Perpignan v Racing-Métro 92 (Aimé Giral, 19.45)
Lyon OU v Oyonnax (Issoire, 18.30)
Clermont Auvergne v Sale Sharks (Issoire, 20,00)
SU Agen v Leeds (Agen, 19.00)

August 7
Castres v Colomiers (Lavaur, 18.30)
Montpellier v Sale Sharks (Camares, 18.30)
FC Auch Gers v Pau (Mourenx, 17.00)
Aurillac v Provale Select XV (Kamares, 16.30)

August 11
Béziers v Carcassonne (Béziers, 18.00)

August 13
Pau v RC Narbonne (Castets, 18.00)
Oyonnax v Macon (Nantau, 18.00)
Lyon OU v Saint Etienne (Lyon, 18.00)
Aurillac v SCA Albi (Aurillac, 19.30)

August 20
Carcassonne v Mont-de-Marsan (Carcassonne, 18.30)
Grenoble v Oyonnax (Grenoble, 19.00)