Unlike French football, which awarded the coronavirus-curtailed 2019/20 championship to PSG, rugby bosses have decided there will be no title winners for the first time since the Second World War.
There will also be no promotion or relegation – sighs of relief at Stade Francais and Agen, frustration at Colomiers and Perpignan.
Questions remain over European qualification, while six clubs – Toulouse, Clermont, Racing 92, Bordeaux, Castres and Toulon – still have an interest in the currently-on hold 2019/20 Champions and Challenge Cups.
Coronavirus also hampered moves in the transfer market. French clubs had been relatively quiet, anyway, concentrating on developing homegrown players. Here are the key signings and departures so far.
Agen
Key signing: Full-back Jean-Marcellin Buttin, who’s no mug at centre, wing or fly-half, travels west from Lyon to become the big name among five currently listed new arrivals at Stade Armandie. Still only 28, this particular bold dog has a few tricks left.
Key departure: Fiji international Benito Masilevu is not in the Agen reckoning for next season and joins 14 other players in the departure lounge. No news, yet, on where he could end up.
Bayonne
Key signing: An injury-troubled couple of seasons have seen Gaetan Germain’s nearly unmissable howitzer boot track a little left in recent times. But, on his day, he can still ping them over from more than 50m. A useful addition to Yannick Bru’s squad.
Key departure: Tongan lock-cum-back row Edwin Maka should have a few years in him yet, but, after a season on the Basque coast, his future is currently uncertain. He’s one of 19 departures from Bayonne this summer – and he’s not the only one with nowhere to go.
This story is from the May 03, 2020 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 03, 2020 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.