Caged Tiger: Julien Dupuy Photo: Michael Paler

Heineken Cup finalists Leicester Tigers have again issued a “hands-off” warning to Stade Francais as the Top 14 side continues its pursuit of scrum-half Julien Dupuy.

The want-away playmaker has made little secret of his desire to return to Top 14 next season – he was previously with Biarritz – but Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill has vowed Dupuy will remain in England unless a “suitable replacement” can be signed.

That at least offers Dupuy a glimmer of hope, as Cockerill had previously said he wouldn’t countenance even the thought of the 25-year-old leaving.

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But now it seems that the switch – which has been openly talked about by both Dupuy and Cockerill – will only been given the green light once Leicester have signed further cover to compliment British and Irish Lion Harry Ellis.

Ellis has lost his starting place to Dupuy since the Six Nations Championship, and Cockerill is clearly unwilling to weaken his squad merely because the player himself wants to leave with a year still left on his contract.

Leicester should not want for would-be signings given their current high standing within the European game – they are in the finals of both the Heineken Cup and the Guinness Premiership play-offs – but Dupuy is likely to have to bide his time for now.

“Stade would like to buy Julien out of his contract,” confirmed Cockerill. “If we could find a suitable replacement that would be an option, but if not then he will stay here. We’re a big club and will not get rolled over. His girlfriend wants to be in France and Julien wants to be here playing rugby for us. It’s a personal not rugby issue.”

The Tigers coach admitted the current situation was “not ideal”, but emphasized that Leicester would not capitulate to Dupuy’s wishes. “He signed a two-year deal and was second choice at Biarritz when he arrived. We honour our contracts and sometimes players have to do the same. He understands that – it’s not a heated discussion we’re having.

“Why let your best players leave when you don’t have to? We’re looking at someone to replace Julien, but who’s as good as he is and is available?”

Dupuy, for his part, told the Leicester Mercury that he hoped the issue was resolved soon. "Maybe we can have some news this week," he said. "We will see. I hope so, because it is a little hard to play with some things inside your head. It is hard. I try to put these things out of my head when I am playing. When you don't know what is happening next year, is is a little bit hard. But this is my situation an I accept that."

One player who will definitely not be at the Paris giants next season is 25-year-old winger Julien Saubade, who has agreed a cross-city switch to newly promoted Racing-Métro 92, on a two-year deal.

The ambitious newcomers have also confirmed that veteran All Black fly-half Andrew Mehrtens has signed a one-year extension, paving the way for the hugely experienced play-maker to make his Top 14 debut at the ripe old age of 36.

Teammates Jonathan Wisniewski – currently Mehrtens’ understudy – and Fijian winger Sireli Bobo have also agreed new deals.

Meanwhile, former Stade Francais coach Fabien Galthié continues to be linked with Montpellier. According to Midi Olympique Galthié could act as a consultant at the Top 14 side next season, with the possibility of becoming head coach for two years after that.

Galthié is a good friend of Montpellier president Thierry Pérez, who this week came under fire from his Colomiers counterpart Alain Carré over the capture of Fijian Saklusa Matadigo.

Carré believed that Matadigo would be joining Colomiers from fellow ProD2 outfit FC Auch Gers after signing a pre-contract agreement, but now it appears that he has been gazumped by the Top 14 side.

“The player, who had negotiated with us and his agent, has finally signed in Montpellier with another agent. I find it outrageous,” Carré told La Dépêche du Midi. “I will speak with Thierry Pérez, the president of Montpellier, to address this problem. He told me he was unaware of it.”

Auch, meanwhile, appear to be winning their battle for financial solvency ahead of Friday’s crucial meeting with the DNACG – the league’s financial watchdog. A recent ‘rugbython’ fundraising weekend brought in upwards of €100,000, and now the club has announced a further €50,000 input from Vivadour.

The proD2 club has also confirmed that former captain Grégory Patat has signed a one-year contract to become its coach. Patat, 34, has been brought in as a replacement for former head coach Pierre-Henry Broncan, who has agreed a two-year deal to take over at Aurillac.

Patat captained Auch to the 2004 ProD2 title and has been coaching at Mielal-Mirande-Rabastens in Fédérale 2 this year.

Elsewhere in ProD2, Grenoble centre jean-Maurice Oulouma, 26, has signed a two-year deal with Oyonnax.

Back in Top 14, meanwhile, Jerry Collins, Toulon’s departing former All Black, has shed more light on the reasons for his summer switch to the Ospreys.

“The fact the Ospreys have made no secret of their desire to compete consistently in Europe has been a big influence for me,” he said. “This is exactly the kind of environment in which I wish to play.”

The 28-year-old, who retired from international after the last World Cup, added: “I know there is a great tradition in the game at Ospreys from the two clubs which merged to form the club; and in New Zealand we grow up in the game learning about the strong traditions of the game in Wales.

“The battles between the All Blacks and Wales have been and still are some of the best in the international arena. I have been privileged to play in a number. Now I am really looking forward to trying to make a big contribution to the Ospreys’ clubs goals. That is definitely my intention.”

Collins, who has previously admitted to a mercenary attitude towards the sport – “Rugby is my job, I have no love for it. My love is for my family. I don’t take my work home with me” – will now compete for a starting place with Wales captain Ryan Jones, as well as Jonathan Thomas, former Hurricanes teammate Tiatia and the emerging Tom Smith.

Collins’ erstwhile club-mate – and potential future All Black - Sonny Bill Williams is one of three France-based players confirmed in the Barbarians’ squad to take on Australia at Sydney on June 6.

England World Cup winner Iain Balshaw – who has signed to play for Biarritz next season – is also in the squad, along with Toulon-bound SSébastien Bruno. Former French international Serge Betsen – now at London Wasps – has also been named, together with a star-studded cast that includes New Zealand’s Luke McAlister, Ireland’s Geordan Murphy, Wales’ Iestyn Thomas and South Africa’s Peter Grant.

On the international front IRB president Bernard Lapasset has called for reform of the summer and autumn tour programmes.

“A working group has been established and reported its findings. A proposal will be circulated and discussed at the May 13 council meeting of the IRB,” he said.

It is understood that Lapasset favours a rolling world championship to ensure all matches retain intensity and public interest.