The all-powerful DNACG – French rugby’s financial watchdog – has warned 10 Top 14 clubs that they need to increase their income to cover player payrolls for next season.

Bayonne, Clermont Auvergne and Stade Toulousain were all praised for their financial propriety but 10 of the remaining 11 were told they must up their income to avoid future problems.

All 10 have received a letter from the DNACG’s superior council and now have until June 30 to illustrate how they will increase their planned income. If they fail to do so they face a potential ban on player recruitment, although it is not expected to come to that.

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

The DNACG threat is being seen more as a warning shot across the bows, and is reflective of the economic pinch currently being felt by sport globally.

The perennially injured Stade Toulousain fly-half David Skrela will be out of action for the rest of 2009.

Skrela aggravated an old knee injury while on France’s current tour and has already been operated on after returning back home a fortnight ago.

“He was troubled several times over the course of the season and following medical consultation specialists decided on the surgery,” confirmed a Stade Toulousain spokesman. He will be out for at least six months.

Skrela’s injury, and lengthy rehab, could explain why Stade Toulousain have been reluctant to consider letting Frederic Michalak move after Bayonne and Perpignan were both reportedly keen on the international.

Perpignan centre Maxime Mermoz, meanwhile, has revealed a long-held ambition to emulate Michalak and play in the southern hemisphere’s Super 14 competition.

Mermoz, currently on tour with France in Australia, acknowledged such a move could jeopardize his international career, but hinted he would jump at the offer… should it arrive.

“It’s my childhood dream to make the Super 14,” the Catalan star told Australian reporters. “It’s a more open style of rugby and more ambitious and a culture that I admire. Though there is physically a difference between Super 14 and European players, it is still something I would love to do.”

Stade Toulousain’s Michalak enjoyed a superb season with South Africa’s Natal Sharks in 2008 but has since struggled to reassert himself both at his club and for France. But Mermoz said the presence of All Black Dan Carter at Perpignan last season had merely fuelled his desire to emulate boyhood hero Aaron Mauger.

“It was amazing to see the demands he [Carter] made on himself daily,” said Mermoz. “Just his presence. He pulled us all up, the advice he gave us daily and the way he was able to correct our weaknesses.”

Mermoz enjoyed a stellar season with Perpignan as they won their first French Championship in 54 years, and the former Stade Toulousain player is now hoping to add to his three international caps as he attempts to oust the likes of Yannick Jauzion and Mathieu Bastareaud from the French starting XV.

The French press has reported that Carter came close to signing on for another season with Perpignan.

According to reports the Kiwi fly-half agreed a verbal deal with Perpignan president Paul Goze, but it was scuppered by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU). Carter has since re-signed a new contract with the NZRU, and agreed to re-join the Crusaders.

Perpignan fly-half Nicolas Laharrague, meanwhile, has agreed a new one-year deal with the Top 14 champions. The former Tarbes player missed much of last season due to injuries but has been rewarded for his on-field performances with a contract extension.

Racing-Metro’s Francois Steyn admitted to being “very nervous” before playing at full-back for South Africa against the British and Irish Lions last weekend.

“It’s been more than a year since I played in this position and this game was for me the most tactical of my short career,” said Steyn, who usually plays at either fly-half or in the centres.

“The Lions have many good runners and they made me run across the field. I was dead tired at the end of the game,” he added.

 Steyn said he expected to play the rest of the three-match series at full-back, but did add that his versatility could be seen as a double-edged sword.

“With the Springboks I have been a winger, centre, full-back fly-half and even scrum-half. But I feel good at full-back and I at least hope to finish this series in that position,” he added.

Montpellier newcomer Benjamin Thiéry can’t wait for the new season to arrive after the frustrations of last year at Biarritz, his former club.

The 25-year-old international full back managed just five matches last season and hasn’t played a competitive in over six months due to injury, but insists he is up for the “new challenge” of establishing himself with the Mediterranean club.

“I hunger for game competition,” he told L’Equipe. “I am over six months without playing and I need to regain confidence.”

Thiéry has clearly been impressed by what he has seen at Montpellier so far, although he acknowledged that the Hérault club needs to improve dramatically on last season, when they finished a disappointing 10^th and had a change of head coach following the departure of long serving Didier Nourault.

He has, however, been hugely impressed by their infrastructure to date. “I think there is simply no better club in France,” he said. “Everything is done to put players in the best possible conditions.”

Now they need to translate off-field excellence into on-field results, and Thiéry is confident that can be achieved. “It is a very exciting challenge,” he said.

Australia’s ACT Brumbies have confirmed a four-match development tour of France, with games against Bourgoin (July 24^th), Bayonne (July 28^th), Perpignan (July 31^st) and Toulon (Aug 6^th).

The games against Bayonne and Toulon will see them come up against former NRL stars Craig Gower and Sonny Bill Williams respectively.

Confirmed friendlies:
11.07.09
Biarritz v Clermont Auvergne
24.07.09
Stade Toulousain v Montpellier
Bourgoin v ACT Brumbies (19.30)
28.07.09
Bayonne v ACT Brumbies
31.07.09
Biarritz v Pau (19.00)
SCA Albi v Stade Toulousain (TBC)
Lyon OU v Bourgoin
Perpignan v ACT Brumbies (TBC)
05.08.09
SCA Albi v Romania
06.08.09
Toulon v ACT Brumbies
07.08.09
Clermont Auvergne v Glasgow
Biarritz v Stade Toulousain (20.30)
Bourgoin v Stade Francais (or on the 08.08.09, TBC)
08.08.09
Mont-de-Marsan v Union Bordeaux-Begles (18.30)
SCA Albi v Leicester Tigers or Sale Sharks
22.08.09
Union Bordeaux-Begles v La Rochelle (18.30)