Destination unknown: Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is in demand Photo: Michael Paler

The transfer rumour mill has gone into overdrive this week with various sources claiming a plethora of deals bring British-based players to France are either in the making or close to finalisation, depending on who you choose to believe.

Brive and Toulon are, inevitably, at the centre of much of the speculation, with the two Top 14 sides seemingly keen to follow up on last summer’s respective spending sprees as they seek to build and strengthen.

Brive, who have already confirmed the capture of Wasps’ England international Riki Flutey, are now reported to be poised to complete the signing of Gloucester’s Italian prop Carlos Nieto.

Nieto, 32, is understood to be keen for a new club after the arrival of Kiwi Greg Somerville has limited his opportunities with the Guinness Premiership club. Brive, currently riding high in fifth position in Top 14, have made their move after earlier overtures by Bath and Toulon failed to materialize.

Northampton Saints are also reportedly keen on Nieto, although they are said to want him to forsake his international career.

Meanwhile, Ryan Lamb, another Gloucester player, is apparently being lined up by Pro D2 leaders Racing Metro ’92 in case they miss out on England’s Jonny Wilkinson.

The England Saxons’ fly-half, like Nieto, has recently been usurped as a regular starter at Gloucester following the arrival of another New Zealander – in his case by the former All Black Carlos Spencer.

The 22-year-old is certainly hitting the headlines this week after he was fined £1,000 by a British court on Monday for punching a student in the face outside a Cheltenham nightclub.

Lamb was found guilty of hitting 20-year-old Gregor Paterson after a verbal altercation on March 1^st.

Lamb admitted common assault and said he had been “wound up” by comments made by Paterson, although the latter claimed he had only been praising the player.

A statement by Lamb’s club said: “Gloucester Rugby regards this as a very serious incident and is already undertaking an internal disciplinary process.”

Toulon, Bayonne and Racing Metro are all reportedly still interested in signing Wilkinson, although Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal appeared to suggest his club were down the pecking order due the player’s desire to be involved with a team featuring in the Heineken Cup.

That suggestion was leant further credence – or not – by rumour and counter-rumour claiming Toulon had signed Argentine fly-half Felipe Contepomi on Monday. But while various news agencies seemed agreed that Contepomi was on his way to France, his current Irish employers Leinster released a statement denying any deal had been done.

“This speculation has been flying around for a few months now but that’s all it is – speculation. And it’s our policy not to comment on speculation,” said Leinster’s Peter Breen.

“Felipe’s under contract to Leinster and until that changes we won’t be discussing his future,” he added.

               

Reports have also said that Toulon are currently in negotiations with Sale duo Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Rory Lamont as Philippe Saint-Andre’s influence grows apace.

Saint-Andre is leaving his post as director of rugby at Sale for Toulon in the summer and appears set on bringing many of his former charges with him.

Argentine international Lobbe and Scottish international Lamont would be the latest to follow their current boss across the ‘Le Channel’.

The club’s rebuilding process is clearly in full swing after a difficult season back in Top 14. Last week they confirmed that Welsh centre Jamie Robinson had signed for next season and now rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams is on the cusp of following club captain Joe van Niekerk in signing a contract extension.

According to the French press the only potential sticking point is over the length of the extensions, with the club keen on a three-year deal while Williams, 23, prefers a two-year deal.

Williams has impressed in recent weeks after overcoming fractured fibula which saw him sidelined for much of the first half of the season.

Another British-based player apparently set for Top 14 next season is Leicester Tigers’ French scrum-half Julien Dupuy.

The 25-year-old, who has been receiving rave reviews of late, admitted a return to his homeland was on the cards because his family had failed to settle in England.

“I feel good at Leicester, I like it here. But I might have to leave Leicester for family reasons,” he told the Leicester Mercury.

The former Biarritz player only joined the Tigers last year after seven seasons with the Basque club.

One piece of news that appears irrefutable is that Stade Toulousain scrum-half Byron Kelleher is on the mend following a five-week injury lay-off.

The former All Black No 9 returned to training this week after recovering from a seriously sprained left knee.

“It’s getting better day by day,” confirmed Kelleher as he targets the club’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Cardiff Blues on April 11.

Last season’s Top 14 Player of the Year has been absent since leaving the field injured on January 31^st during Toulouse’s 17-13 defeat by Biarritz.

Midi-Olympique reported this week that Fabrice Landreau will cease being Stade Francais’ forwards coach at the end of the season, with the paper suggesting the club’s hooker Mathieu Blin is in line to take over.

The south-east’s rugby paper also confirmed that Biarritz centre Yann Fior, 22, had signed a new two-year contract with the rejuvenated Top 14 club.

Elsewhere, Mont-de-Marsan’s injury problems continue with full-back Jean-Marc Mazzonetto the latest on the crock list after going off injured against Montpellier at the weekend.