Le Rugby’s Welsh correspondent, Ray de Galles, brings down the curtain on 2009/10, including an exciting new development that saw the Welsh ranks swell from four to five players. Is it a case of Allez les Gallois or Au Revoir?

Ray de Galles, has been purring with delight at the recent transfers of Lee Thomas to Lyon and Liam Davies to Dax. In the meantime, he’s been keeping himself busy by assessing the form of the Welsh players who plied their trade in France last season, including a late arrival for Bordeaux-Begles.

Jamie Robinson
Age: 30
Position: Centre
Club: Toulon (joined July 2009)
Previous Clubs: Cardiff Blues
Caps: 23

Sadly, things went more than a bit sour for Jamie after a promising start to life on the shores of the Mediterranean. There’s no doubt that Toulon’s huge squad was a telling factor, although he did enough in the early part of the season to warrant more regular selection. He ended the season having played 16 games, of which he started 11 and bagged one try. All appearances came in the league, even though coach Philippe Saint-André opted against fielding weakened line-ups for Toulon’s ultimately unsuccessful Amlin Challenge Cup campaign. Indeed, things got so bad that Jamie made only two five-minute substitute appearances between 9 January and the end of the season.

Inside sources suggest he’s happy to stay and fight for his place at the Stade Mayol, although club officials may prefer to see the back of him before the second half of his contract kicks in. Jamie’s parlez-vous-Francais abilities could make him an attractive proposition to one of the two newly promoted Top 14 teams, so one way or another expect him to be a part of these articles next season. He’s still a quality player who can play in the centre or on the wing. Toulon’s loss could be Agen’s or La Rochelle’s gain.

Alix Popham
Age: 30
Position: Back Row
Club: Brive (joined June 2008)
Previous Clubs: Newport, Leeds, Llanelli Scarlets
Caps: 31

There’s better news on the Popham front. After a frustrating three-month layoff over the winter, the ex-Newport and Llanelli back rower roared back into action to nail down a starting spot on the flank by the season’s end. The fact he was made club captain for the season says a lot about his qualities and work ethic. Add in the fact he can play anywhere across the back row and it’s no surprise Alix hasn’t been a victim of the overseas player cull that’s taken place over the last few months, one that’s seen the likes of Andy Goode, Riki Flutey, Steve Thompson and Christian Short leave the Stade Stade Amédée-Domenech for pastures new and less lucrative.

In total, he played 19 games, starting 15 of those. He shared his time between league and Heineken Cup duties. Brive are not over-blessed in the back row department and will have a much-changed squad when they begin pre-season training, so count on Popham starting next season in le noir et blanc. Don’t rule out a surprise recall to the Welsh squad either, with the rejuvenated Popham able to offer an element of badly needed stability and experience.

Chris Wyatt
Age: 35
Position: Lock/No.8
Club: Aix-en-Provence (joined July 2008)
Previous Clubs: Newport, Neath, Llanelli Scarlets, Munster, Bourgoin
Caps: 27

Whisper it quietly to friend-of-the-site Tomas Marks, but Christophe was arguably the most successful Welsh export in France last campaign. He was a first team regular at the picturesque Stade Maurice David, playing 24 games and making 18 starts, sharing his time between No.8, blind-side flanker and lock. He also crossed for two tries, as well as popping over a conversion. How about that for versatility!

It was a tough season for Pays d’Aix. Despite some very creditable, battling performances, they ultimately lost out in their fight to avoid the relegation trap door. However, their 15th place finish means they will start next season in Pro D2 due to Montauban’s financial debauchery. The latter’s demotion to the Fédérale jungles means that Wyatt and his fellow Provencals have earned an unlikely reprieve. Will Wyatt still be there? A lot could depend on new coach Oliver Nier’s short-term ambitions. The ex-Oyonnax assistant has already stated that survival is the key, so may well lean towards the experience of Wyatt to help establish a sound base from which to develop from. We think Chris has one final year left in the sun – not bad for a player who not so long ago had probably banked on ending his career turning out for Risca 2nd XV.

Tomas Marks
Age: 26
Position: Outside-half
Club: Le Bugue (joined June 2009)
Previous Clubs: Llanelli, London Welsh, Llandovery
Caps: None (yet)

Regular Le Rugby contributor Tomas Marks can look back on his first season in French rugby with a great deal of satisfaction. His move to Le Bugue was a venture into the unknown – not many Welsh players have tried their hand at life in Fédérale 1. However, he soon became a part of the furniture at the Stade Renaud Cruveilier and was a key ingredient in them securing their third-tier-of-French-rugby future for another season, despite a horrendous start to the season that saw the team lose their first six games, one coach to illness and another to local aristocrats Brive.

Marks was les Chevaliers’ first-choice outside half this season, releasing the likes of ageing ex-Samoan international Terry Fanolua and 17-cap Tongan maison de puissance Sukanaivalu Hufanga in the centre. As well as his attacking prowess, he’s also been keeping scoreboard operators busy the length and breadth of France. From his 24 Fédérale 1 appearances he made 22 starts and racked up 222 points made up of 38 penalties, 45 conversions, 3 tries and a dropped goal. His future with the Dordogne outfit remains up in the air, with the ex-Llanelli and Llandovery man keeping his options open for next season. His form won’t have gone unnoticed amongst some Pro D2 clubs. Watch this space.

Ricky Davies
Age: 30
Position: Prop
Club: Union Bordeaux-Begles
Previous Clubs: Dunvant, Whitland, Carmarthen Quins, Llanelli Scarlets, Brisbane Sunnybank Dragons, Llandovery, L’Aquila, Birmingham & Solihull Bees, Worcester
Caps: None

When you look at the number of clubs Ricky has played for, it’s not surprising to learn he was keen to join Union Bordeaux Bègles back in March as a medical joker. This was his tenth club in as many years, as well as France being the fifth different country. The pick of his career saw him represent Wales in the 1999 U19 FIRA Junior World Cup, as well as playing for the Scaaaaarlets in the Celtic League and L’Aquila in Italy’s Super 10.

Since moving to the Stade Andre Moga in mid-March, Davies was a prominent feature of the first team squad. His five appearances came from five starts, as les Bordelais made an ultimately unsuccessful late push for a play-off spot. Fans of journeymen Welsh props will be disappointed to hear the news that according to one of the Union Bordeaux-Begles’ fan forums, it seems that Ricky’s been told his services won’t be required next season. That would be no big deal for Ricky. Expect him to be playing for Connacht next season.