21.   Former French international rugby centre Denis Charvet said on Monday that he expects to sign for second division Newcastle within a month.

22.   Former French rugby union coach Jacques Fouroux said Sunday that he plans to return to the sport after a flirtation with rugby league.

23.   French rugby federation president Bernard Lapasset confirmed the approach and said a disciplinary committee would examine a video of the match on Thursday.

24.   French rugby federation president Bernard Lapasset said here Wednesday the sport here would not embrace all-out professionalism, although he acknowledged it could no longer be called amateur.

25.   French rugby manager Guy Laporte was sacked here on Tuesday, further undermining the position of embattled coach Pierre Berbizier.

26.   French rugby union coach Jean-Clause Skrela has warned his international squad players to get their act together or get out.

27.   French rugby star Thierry Lacroix is threatening to go into self-imposed exile in South Africa if selectors fail to re-install him as fly-half in the international team.

28.   French rugby union outfit Stade Francais on Monday concluded two-year deals with Puma fullback Ignacio Corletto, South African centre Brian Liebenberg and French scrumhalf Jerome Fillol.

29.   He believes the convivial essence of French rugby is under threat from the elitist ranks.

30.   He did not expect local mayors would bow to pressure from the French rugby union to block the new championship using municipal grounds normally reserved for union matches.