Two Top 14 clubs were back out on the pitch on Thursday and it did not go too well for either of them. Reigning back-to-back French champions Stade Toulousain, who began their summer preparation later than any other professional club, had their first run-out against Vannes, a former top-flight side relegated a division at the end of last season. Well ahead physically, the Bretons made the difference in the closing stages to win with a decisive maul that sent a Roudourou stadium in Guingamp, packed to the rafters for the occasion, into raptures (33-28).

Like Toulouse, Bayonne let it slip in money time

Much further south, Aviron Bayonnais hosted near neighbours Biarritz Olympique (Pro D2) for a Basque derby that is never friendly by nature. And like Vannes, BO went and grabbed the win late on from a maul (19-21), to the great pride of their coach Boris Bourahoua.

Three other matches involved only Pro D2 clubs, and worth noting were Provence Rugby’s win over Béziers (29-23), Dax’s victory at Mont-de-Marsan in a fine Landes derby (26-31) and Oyonnax’s crushing success against Valence-Romans (42-7).