The want-away scrum-half - recently named in the France squad to tour New Zealand and Australia – has made it clear that he wants to return home due to personal reasons, but Leicester boss Richard Cockerill is refusing to let Dupuy go for a knockdown price.

“Julien is still under contract to us. We have given Stade Francais a price and they have not agreed that price yet,” Cockerill told the Leicester Mercury.

Top 14 Table / Top 14 Fixtures / Top 14 Transfers - The story so far...

According to press reports that initial offer was for €100,000, but Cockerill is demanding more for a player he is reluctant to lose, and who still has one year left on his current contract with the Guinness Premiership champions.

“After the Heineken Cup final, we contacted Julien’s advisors and advised them that the price has to be right because we are not letting our best players go to play for our rivals,” reasoned Cockerill.

“You can’t let your best players go for a small amount can you? I think the transfer fee Stade Francais wanted us to pay for Juan Martin Hernandez was three times what they are offering for Julien,” he added.

Meanwhile, Clermont Auvergne have been boosted by good news regarding Fijian winger Napolioni Nalaga in the continuing build up to Saturday’s Top 14 final against Perpignan.

Nalaga – who scored a record 20 tries during the regular season - is said to be recovering well from a swollen knee and is now in line to play for Les Jaunards as they seek their first French title after nine final losses.

Perpignan have made just one change from the 25-man squad they named for the semi-final win over Stade Francais, adding Henry Tuilagi to their ranks.

Both sides have already sold their 9,500 ticket allocations for the final – held at the 80,000 capacity Stade de France.

One Perpignan player who definitely won’t be featuring, however, is Scottish lock Nathan Hines. The 32-year-old international gave up his chance to be part of the Catalans first title-winning side in 54 years when he opted instead to tour South Africa with the British and Irish Lions.

The Australian-born second row admitted his decision had not gone down well with Perpignan, but said he couldn’t turn the chance to represent the Lions.

“I won’t get another invitation to play for the Lions. When this invitation arrives you say ‘Yes’. I hope I have another chance to win a French title next season. Let’s just say Perpignan were understanding, if not joyful, about my decision. I understand their reaction, but they also understand me,” said Hines.

The 6ft 7ins lock has set his heart on making the Lions’ Test team against the Springboks, but said he was still keeping an eye on how club colleagues were going back in France.

“Of course I’m backing Perpignan for the title – but I just had to be here [South Africa] for this chance of a lifetime,” he added.

Another Perpignan player in the news is Marius Tincu, the Catalans’ Romanian hooker who continued to play Top 14 rugby despite being banned for 18 weeks by the ERC for an alleged eye-gouging offence in a Heineken Cup match against the Ospreys in October.

That prompted a three-man investigation by the International Rugby Board (IRB), which has now made an agreement with the FFR that future European bans will also apply to France’s domestic competitions.

Neither Perpignan nor Tincu will face any further sanctions.

Former French international Olivier Sourgens has signed to join Worcester Warriors from ProD2 outfit Union Bordeaux-Begles. The 37-year-old tighthead prop has previously played for Mont-de-Marsan, Pau and Bourgoin.

“Olivier is a very experienced prop with international and Top 14 experience over many years,” said Worcester coach Mike Ruddock. “He is a proven scrummager and all-round robust and aggressive forward. Olivier comes highly recommended and, from what I’ve seen of him in action, he looks a good signing for us,” added Ruddock.