News: Stade Francais double their offer for Dupuy; DNACG threaten to relegate Tarbes

French side Stade Francais have doubled their bid for Julien Dupuy after Leicester Tigers refused their initial offer as derisory.

The want-away scrum-half – currently on tour with France in New Zealand – has made no secret of his desire to return to Top 14, but his hopes have so far been blocked by Leicester in the face of what they deemed an insufficient transfer fee.

Dupuy, 25, still has one year left on his contract with the Guinness Premiership champions and coach Richard Cockerill is adamant that the club must be properly compensated if losing a player they would ideally like to retain.

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

Stade Francais have now doubled their initial bid to €200,000, according to a report in the Leicester Mercury, although the paper said negotiations were likely to remain on hold until Dupuy returned from France’s summer tour.

The Tigers appear willing to let Dupuy go for the right price, and have lined up Leinster’s Australian Chris Whitaker as a possible replacement. They already have British Lion Harry Ellis on their books.

Stade Toulousain have tried to dampen speculation linking Frédéric Michalak with a move away from the club, following reports that he was on the verge of signing for new Top 14 champions Perpignan.

The Catalans are keen to land a long-term replacement for departing All Black Dan Carter, and see Michalak as a possible solution. The French international had only limited opportunities at Stade Toulousain during the season, owing to the combined presence of Byron Kelleher, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and David Skrela.

The 26-year-old was reportedly considering his future after being overlooked by Marc Lièvremont for France’s current tour to New Zealand and Australia, but Stade Toulousain president René Bouscatel said this week that the file was “closed” on Michalak. “I heard about his departure for Perpignan or Bayonne but I have no doubt that he will resume [pre-season training] in July with Toulouse,” he added.

It now seems that if Michalak is still keen to leave he will have to find a club willing to buy out the remaining two years of his contract, something that may put off potential suitors such as Perpignan, Bayonne and Heineken Cup champions Leinster – who were also rumoured to be interested.

That is unlikely to stop the ongoing party currently consuming Perpignan, after the Catalans beat Clermont Auvergne 22-13 in Saturday’s Top 14 final. The club’s first French title in 54 years has sparked wild celebrations in the city, with the victorious players being feted by up to 20,000 delirious fans on Sunday evening. A 7km bus journey through the city on Sunday took an hour – as opposed to the usual nine minutes - as fans roared their approval to their heroes.

Trouble is brewing down in ProD2 with Tarbes and Bourg-en-Bresse both due to be notified this week [on Wednesday] that they will be relegated by the DNACG, the league’s financial watchdog.

Both clubs appeared before the DNACG on Friday after failing to balance their books this season. Top 14 side Bourgoin were also heard, although they have escaped punishment after appearing to satisfy the DNACG.

Tarbes and Bourg, though, had no such luck, and now have 10 days to appeal the decision.

Bourg had already been relegated to Fédérale 1 after finishing the season in 15^th position, but now face the prospect of dropping down a division further to Fédérale 2. Tarbes, however, were jostling for a possible play-off slot until the final few weeks and now have the very real prospect of being relegated despite finishing seventh.

Their budget for 2008/9 showed a shortfall of €600,000, although the Midi-Pyrenees club remains hopeful that it can avert relegation by securing financial pledges to make up the deficit. An extraordinary general meeting is due to be held on June 22.

Should Bourg and Tarbes both be relegated – to Fédérale 2 and Fédérale 1 respectively – it could open the door for Béziers to avoid the drop, despite finishing 16^th and last in ProD2 following a disastrous campaign.

Dax, who will play in ProD2 next season following relegation from Top 14, have completed the signing of Fijian international Ratu Naisa Narukutabua on a two-year contract. Narukutabua, who has represented Fiji in both Sevens and at full international level, joins from the Nadroga provincial side. The 27-year-old can play in the centres or on the wing.

ProD2 Table

Grenoble have also been busy in the transfer market, signing Bourg-en-Bresse prop Mutapcic Kenan and Brive fly-half Jonathan Pelissie. The latter has joined on a one-year loan deal. Josh Heke (prop) and Jordan Garnier (full-back), meanwhile, have left the club to join newly promoted Aix-en-Provence.

Union Bordeaux-Begles also continue to strengthen their squad following the arrivals of Czech winger Martin Jagr from Toulon and 23-year-old lock Cédric Guironnet from Dax. Stade Francais centre Quentin Valancon, 23, has now signed for a year, together with Toulon fly-half Julien Chouquet, 22, who signed for two years.