The after-shock of yet another play-off defeat for Clermont Auvergne has resulted in two players withdrawing from France's summer tour, and a third refusing to be called up as a replacement.

Clermont captain Aurélien Rougerie suffered a double blow in losing Saturday's Top 14 final to Perpignan.

Not only was it Rougerie's fourth play-off defeat - along with team-mate Alexandre Audebert - but the giant winger has now been forced to pull out of France's tour to New Zealand and Australia.

"I know from experience that touring is very stressful and I have to many physical problems to leave. I want to be 100% and this is not the case," he said after the 22-13 defeat. "I have taken this decision with the medical staff of Clermont. I have a lot of physical problems. I have a knee that is not strong, a loose shoulder, a problem in the forearm and swelling in my ankle," he added.

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France coach Marc Lièvremont initially turned to fellow Clermont back Antony Floch to replace Rougerie, but the player himself turned the opportunity down saying that he had back problems and a broken nose. "I think that should be enough," said Floch.

Uncapped Stade Francais winger Julien Arias has now been called up as Rougerie's replacement and flew out to New Zealand on Sunday - together with Perpignan prop Nicolas Mas, hooker Guilhem Guirado, flanker Damien Chouly and centre Maxime Mermoz, as well as Clermont prop Thomas Domingo.

Fellow Clermont international Julien Bonnaire has also pulled out claiming he needs rest, prompting  Lièvremont to call up Bayonne's uncapped 27-year-old Julien Puricelli.

Puricelli had been due to represent France 'A' in the Nations Cup - hosted by Romania - but his place has now been taken by Montauban's Antoine Battut.

Rougerie now has a few weeks off to reflect yet again on what might have been, although he tried to remain positive following his third successive final defeat, and gave a pep talk to his disappointed team-mates.

"I told them I was proud of them and I especially thanked them for all the beautiful moments we have lived together this season. I'm sorry, but I can not forget that we have completed a magnificent season. Tonight is a moment of sadness, but there are more serious things in life. Life goes on, our careers too. Everything does not end tonight," he told rugbyrama.com

The Clermont captain admitted that "silly mistakes" at the start of the second-half had cost them dear, especially the lopsided defence which allowed David Marty to score just five minutes after the restart. After that it was Jerome Porical's boot which punished Clermont, and Rougerie conceded Perpignan had won through being "pragmatic and effective".

Rougerie and Audebert have now equalled the Dax pair Pierre Albaladejo and Jean-Claude Lasserre in becoming the only players in French history to have lost four play-off finals.

Another Clermont player left trying to come to terms with the triple disappointment was fly-half Brock James. The Australian passed 1,000 points for Clermont during the final - remarkably achieved in just three seasons - but that was no consolation for this third successive final defeat.

"I am disappointed, so disappointed," he admitted afterwards. "It is very hard. I really thought that we would win. To have played such a good first half and still lose the match is very difficult to live with," he added.

Clermont coach Vern Cotter said that he was "disappointed but proud", admitting that his players "made too many mistakes" as they ceded the lead in the second half.

"We wanted to do too much, too fast, and in fact we made too many mistakes. And Jerome Porical punished us every time," he added.

But perhaps it was Audebert's succinct summary which best described Clermont's heartache. "It's shit," said the defeated flanker.

Perpignan's match-winner Porical was, understandably, jubilant after helping his side to their first French title in 54 years. The full-back kicked 14 points and set up Marty's try as he emulated his grandfather, who won the Brennus Bouclier for the Catalans in 1938.

"It is a dream, a unique moment in a lifetime. Every player dreams of this. I am only 23 and I am a champion. I can hardly believe it. This is fantastic, the best day of my life," he said.

Porical said the team ethos created at Perpignan this season had been a decisive factor, especially in helping them have belief that they could always come back from behind. "This team is really a bunch of friends, and that's what's important in rugby," he explained.

While Porical emulated his grandfather in winning, he went one better than his father, who played 13 seasons with Perpignan without lifting the French title. The closest he got was their 12-4 defeat by Beziers in the 1977 final. "I thought of my grandfather, but my father especially, and I wanted to bring him the shield," said Porical Jnr. "Today there is a small part of the Brennus which is for him," he added.

And Porical said he was now relishing the celebrations to be had back in Perpignan. "It will be madness in Perpignan and I am content to live it before joining France 'A'. Bringing the shield to Perpignan, with its fabulous fans... this is gonna be huge," he said with a big grin.