The after-shocks of Biarritz's home loss to Toulon at the weekend look set to rumble on following reports in the French press that forwards coach Jean-Michel Gonzalez has handed in his resignation.

According to both Midi Olympique and Canal+ the Basque club was left in a state of confusion on Tuesday after Gonzalez failed to turn up for training. Both media outlets also reported that he had tendered his resignation, only for Biarritz to issue a statement denying any decision had been taken.

"Based on the headlines today concerning Jean-Michel Gonzalez, the president of Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque - Serge Blanco - refutes their content.

"He was absent from Biarritz today [Tuesday] and must meet Jean-Michel Gonzalez upon his return, and an official communication from the club will be made on Wednesday afternoon.

"At the moment Jean-Michel Gonzalez is still an employee of Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque," it read.

But despite the club's denials it seems that all is not well behind the scenes. Midi Olympique reported there were tensions between Gonzalez and the players, and certainly it would seem a strangely premature resignation just two games into the new season. Even more so given the fact Biarritz reached the Heineken Cup final last season.

All will presumably be revealed in time, but for now this is surely an unwanted distraction to a season that is not yet two weeks old.

Elsewhere in France attention is turning to this weekend's round three games, with two of Racing-Métro's star-studded squad presently occupying the headlines - for differing reasons. One - Francois Steyn - will definitely miss the away trip to Toulon due to his inclusion in South Africa's Tri-Nations squad, while another - Juan Martin Hernández - could be set for his club debut.

The Argentine has missed both of Racing's games so far this season as he continued his rehab from the back operation which curtailed his South African sojourn, but he has been included in the Paris club's squad for Friday's match.

Club skipper Lionel Nallet said Hernández had been impressive in training of late, while scrum-half Jerome Fillol told L'Equipe that the Pumas' playmaker was "champing at the bit".

Hernández was an immediate crowd favourite during his time with Paris' other club - Stade Francais - and if he does play on Friday it could well be in opposition to Toulon's Jonny Wilkinson.

Racing have also included fit-again France winger Benjamin Fall in their squad, while Toulon have named Kris Chesney in their 26-strong squad despite the former Saracens player being cited for an on-field misdemeanor during their win at Biarritz. That try was Chesney's first in five years and the 36-year-old relished his rare moment in the headlines.

Toulon also include club captain Joe Van Niekerk for the first time this season after the South African overcame a finger injury, while Argentines Felipe Contepomi and Juan Fernandez-Lobbe are also back in the fray. England winger Paul Sackey is also named again despite requiring five stitches in his chin after the Biarritz win. 

If Racing-Métro's trip to Toulon doesn't float your boat then how about table-topping Stade Francais' away-day at Stade Toulousain? The Paris club has shot out of the blocks so far this season, but admittedly their two victories have both been at home, and against the two sides promoted from ProD2. Journeying into the lair of the European champions will prove to be a different matter altogether, although they should take hope from last season's draw in Toulouse.

Whether head coach Michael Cheika believes that way remains to be seen, but the former Leinster boss has been good to his word earlier in the week when he said he would make wholesale changes to the side ahead of a schedule which will bring three games in nine days.

Dimitri Szarzewski, Sergio Parisse, Tom Palmer, Julien Dupuy, Mathieu Bastareaud and Lionel Beauxis have all been left on the bench as Cheika rests some of his key players, although there is still enough talent in the starting XV with the likes of in-form Scottish full-back Hugo Southwell, England flanker James Haskell and Argentine Juan Manuel Leguizamon all named.

There are also first starts of the season for Brian Liebenberg and Noel Oelschig, with the former continuing his comeback from injury while the latter has now served his 20-day suspension for being sent off against Toulon in a pre-season friendly.

The only uncertainty in the Stade team is English winger Ollie Phillips, who must pass a late fitness test or he will be replaced by Romain Raine.

Toulouse will also have their share of absentees, with Yannick Jauzion, Romain Millo-Chluski, Jean-Baptiste Poux and Gregory Lamboley all likely to miss out, while Patricio Albacete and Byron Kelleher look as if they must wait for their first starts of the new season. Full-back Clement Poitrenaud and fly-half David Skrela, however, will both return to the team after being rested for the away defeat at Castres on Saturday.

In other news Bourgoin's tough start to the season has continued with confirmation that hooker Remy Vigneaux required surgery on a ruptured bicep tendon and will now be out for at least three months.

Vigneaux's injury adds to an already lengthening crock list, in addition to which the cash-strapped club has yet to win a match so far this season.

Perpignan, meanwhile, have admitted that talks have been held with Barcelona football club with regard to the Camp Nou hosting a Top 14 league match this season. The Catalans have previously been thwarted in their plans to move a Heineken Cup game across the border due to their recent inability to progress beyond the group stages.