Stade Toulousain's Cédric Heymans will reportedly confirm his summer transfer to Bayonne later this week.

The 32-year-old France international has been in fine form for Toulouse of late after switching from wing to full-back, but it now seems the former Brive star will be based on the Basque coast next season.

Midi Olympique claims Heymans will pen a two-year deal (with the option of a third) with Bayonne despite still having one year left on his contract at Toulouse.

Furthermore, the French rugby paper suggested that former All Black Ross Filipo would remain with Bayonne - rather than sign for London Wasps as was previously reported - while the Basques are also still trying to entice Heymans' erstwhile club colleague Frédéric Michalak to join them.

Michalak last week confirmed that he would be leaving Toulouse at the end of this season after turning down their offer of a new contract - reportedly on less money than his current deal. The versatile half-back has been linked with several French clubs - Bayonne, Biarritz and Lyon OU - as well as Australian Super 15 franchises Melbourne Rebels and the Waratahs.

It seems, however, that Bayonne will not now be signing Toulouse scrum-half Byron Kelleher. The former All Black is also out of contract at Toulouse this summer but it appears that his proposed transfer to Bayonne has now broken down following the exit of Bernard Laporte - who had been brought in to oversee recruitment prior to a change of president at the Basque club.

French press reports now claim that Kelleher is likely to sign with Stade Francais instead.

Fellow former All Black Sione Lauaki also signed a pre-contract deal to join Bayonne (from Clermont Auvergne) under the auspices of Laporte, but that deal is still scheduled to go ahead. And Bayonne could bolster their squad with yet another All Black as they continue to chase Neemia Tialata, 32.

Bayonne are also expected to formalize the capture of Aurillac hooker Victor Manukula, 26.

Top 14 Transfers for 2011/12

The long rumoured appointment of Perpignan's Jacques Brunel as Italy's next head coach has now been officially formalized.

Brunel will succeed current coach Nick Mallett after the forthcoming World Cup, despite the latter publicly stating that he wished to remain in the job.

"Italy is a great rugby nation, they have been playing in the Six Nations for over 10 years," said Brunel following his appointment. "In the coming months I will study the national side and Italian rugby from the outside," he added.

Giancarlo Dondi, president of the Italian Rugby Federation, welcomed Brunel's appointment, saying he had "achieved great results both as coach of the France forwards and as boss of Perpignan".

Brunel, 57, led Perpignan to the French title in 2009 and has also previously worked with the France team, under then head coach Bernard Laporte.

The hunt is now on for the Catalans to find a replacement, with former Biarritz and Stade Francais boss Jacques Delmas widely tipped to be that man. Delmas led Biarritz to two French titles before an ill-fated short term in charge of Stade Francais last season following the sacking of then head coach Ewen McKenzie.

L'Equipe reported that Delmas will not be joined at Perpignan by his previous assistant Didier Faugeron as the Catalans will retain the services of Christophe Manas and Bernard Goutte.

Delmas will have a settled squad to work with next season, one which will be bolstered by the arrival of Wales fly-half James Hook. The club is also reportedly on the lookout for one or two more additions, and has confirmed that Argentine Rimas Alvarez-Kairelis - who is out of contract in the summer - will remain with the club until December 1st after signing as a "World Cup Joker".

Laporte, meanwhile, is being linked with a possible return to Stade Francais. Laporte previously guided Stade from third division obscurity to France's top tier - with the backing of Max Guazzini's money - and it appears the Paris giants are considering their options after a second successive season of league failure.

Stade are currently 10th in Top 14 and could even finish 11th if they lose their last match against Racing-Métro 92. They could yet still qualify for next season's Heineken Cup - if they win the Amlin Challenge Cup final against Harlequins - but failure to do so would add to their off-field financial problems.

Current head coach Michael Cheika only joined them from Leinster last summer, and it would seem strange if he was only afforded one season to try and turn around an aging and fractured squad.

Laporte, who went on to coach France and become the country's Minister for Sport, recently turned down an opportunity to work with Bayonne after stating that his life and interests were Paris-based.

Toulon's Jonny Wilkinson has spoken about reports that fly-half Danny Cipriani could be signed as cover for the No 10 position during the World Cup at the beginning of next season.

Cipriani is currently coming towards the end of his first season with Melbourne Rebels in Australia, a decision which Wilkinson praised.

"I'm a massive supporter of getting the best out of yourself and it needs guts to go off to a new environment in Australia and do that. It'll pay off unbelievably in what it brings to his game. If he comes to Toulon he'll get the opportunity to show what he's got to offer. It's so important that Danny gets the chance to get the best out of himself, Gavin too," said Wilkinson.

Toulon have announced two more new signings for next season with Fijians Seva Rokobaro and Jone Tawake joining from ProD2 sides Aix-en-Provence and RC Narbonne respectively. They have further confirmed that Australian centre Mafileo Kefu - who had been set to leave - will remain with Toulon as a "World Cup Joker" for the opening three months of next season.

One player leaving Toulon, however, is 21-year-old half back Romain Barthélémy, who has signed to join ProD2 outfit SCA Albi. Barthélémy has played four first-team games for Toulon, scoring one try, and could yet be up against his former club next season if Albi are victorious in the ProD2 play-offs. 

Relegated La Rochelle have announced that scrum-half Damian Neveu has agreed anew two-year contract with the club.

Bourgoin, who have also been relegated from Top 14 this season, have confirmed a third new arrival for 2011/12 in the shape of SCA Albi hooker Pierre Saby. He will be joined at Bourgoin next season by Benjamin Sore (also from Albi) and Grégory Puyo (from Pau).