George Furbank made an aborted comeback as Northampton set-up a repeat of last season’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster with a 51-16 rout of Castres.
After a failed transfer to France last July, Georgian fly-half Luka Matkava is now set for his first taste of Top 14 action by joining Castres as a medical joker.
The hosts had started the night bottom of Pool Four after a loss at Glasgow Warriors in the opening round but an opening try from Jean-Luc du Preez set the tone for a dominant display.
With Montpellier now crowned Top 14 champions, attention turns to the players each side has brought in to better their chances of winning the trophy next season. Newcomers Bayonne have been the busiest in the transfer market, releasing players...
Toulon loose forward Charles Ollivon leads a 42-man France team chosen on Monday by coach Fabien Galthie for two Tests against Japan next month.
The Champions Cup is in turmoil as organisers scramble to find a window in the already crowded schedule to stage the seven matches that have been postponed this weekend.
Wales have an ageing, unfancied team but they may yet have the last laugh on a gifted French side
Bernard Le Roux has been given a new lease of life by France's youngsters
The Nations Cup rolled into its second week but highlights were scarce as caution ruled
Rugby players never go out on the park to lose - but it's not the players who criticism hurts the most.