With impeccable timing, Ray de Galles updates us on the progress of the six Welsh players plying their trade in French rugby - just as a seventh returns to Pro D2...

Last season's contingent of four Welsh players playing in France is now up to seven, with the nation represented across the Top 14, Pro D2 and Federale leagues. The latest arrival is prop Ricky Davies, who has returned to Bordeaux after barely two months back in Britain.

With a third of the season gone, here's our lowdown on the baker's half-dozen...

Jamie Robinson
Age: 30
Position: Centre
Club: Agen (joined July 2010)
Previous Clubs: Cardiff Blues, Toulon
Caps: 23

Despite Agen’s poor start to the season, Jamie has cemented a first team place for himself with les Pruneaux. Not only that, he’s playing at centre, a far cry from the dark days of last season with Toulon when any limited game time he did have was mainly as a winger.

He’s made 9 starts from 10 appearances, acting as the foil in midfield to bulky Australian Junior Pelesasa. The fact he’s survived coach Christophe Deylaud’s axe during a tough start to the season bodes well for Robinson’s future at the Stade Armandie.

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

Alix is in his third and final season with Brive. Thankfully, he’s taken advantage of a welcome injury-free run to be a first-team regular this season. He’s made 10 starts from 12 appearances, all at open-side flanker. It’s not his position of choice in the back-row, yet he’s formed an effective triumvirate with South Africans Antonie Claassen and the excellent Gerhard Vosloo. Hats off to Popham and to the word 'triumvirate'.

Chris Wyatt
Age: 35
Position: Lock/Number 8
Club: Aix-en-Provence (joined July 2008)
Previous Clubs: Newport, Neath, Llanelli Scarlets, Munster, Bourgoin
Caps: 27

Mother nature could finally be catching up with Christophe. He’s still making a contribution in the maison de chaudiere with at Aix-en-Provence having played 7 games this season, 3 of these from the start. He’s unlikely to top last year’s tally of 24 games, with this season probably his last on the field, bringing the curtain down on a productive four-year French sojourn.

Lee Thomas
Age: 26
Position: Centre/Outside Half
Club: Lyon (joined July 2010)
Previous Clubs: Pontypridd, Cardiff Blues, Sale
Caps: None

An early season injury has meant that Lee has only recently been in the Loupe at the Stade Vuillermet. He’s made 3 starts from 4 appearances, only troubling the scoreboard operators once thanks to a solitary conversion.

Two of his starts for the high-flying Les Loups have come on the left wing, a position he’s not used to playing but may have to settle for at present. If he has an eye on moving inside to his preferred position of centre he’ll have to oust one of the two incumbent Fijians, Vinaya Wakanivuga and Waisale Sukanaveita.

Liam Davies
Age: 23
Position: Scrum Half
Club: Dax (joined June 2010)
Previous Clubs: Llanelli Scarlets, Brive, Ospreys, London Welsh (loan)
Caps: None

It’s certainly been a baptême du feu for Liam down in les Landes, with pre-season hotpots Dax experiencing a nightmare start to the new campaign. He’s shared the maillot numero neuf with promising youngster Mickael Lopez, although our boy seems to be winning the battle to be first-choice having made 6 starts from 9 appearances.

Rhys Williams
Age: 22
Position: Centre/Wing
Club: Nevers (joined June 2010)
Previous Clubs: Llanelli Scaaaaarlets, Llandovery
Caps: None

The ex-Wales U20 centre and Llandovery’s player of the year in 2008/9, was an ever-present for the Drovers over the last two seasons, notching an impressive 15 tries in the process. In the opinion of former coach Lyndon Lewis, he was the "best 12 in the Premiership over the last two years".

Our man has carried on his good form in the Bourgogne region of central France, teaming up with local lad Olivier Bertro to form an explosive centre partnership. The Swansea-born centre has made 5 starts for the Stade du Pré Fleuri outfit, who have begun the new season in decent shape, notching up five wins from the first seven games as they fight for two places in Pro D2.

Ricky Davies
Age: 30
Position: Prop
Club: Union Bordeaux-Bègles (re-joined November 2010)
Previous Clubs: Dunvant, Whitland, Carmarthen Quins, Llanelli Scaaaaalets, Brisbane Sunnybank Dragons, Llandovery, L’Aquila, Birmingham & Solihull Bees, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Nottingham
Caps: None

Ricky ended last season at the Stade Andre-Moga with Union Bordeaux-Bègles, but was released in the summer. He subsequently teamed up with English Championship outfit Nottingham, his 10th club, but after only five appearances this season in the East Midlands he finds himself back in France’s wine capital.

Les Bordelais have seen their stock of props decimated by injuries so Ricky’s had the call. Time will tell if his stay will be prolonged, but no doubt Ricky will do his best safe in the knowledge that he’s back on this list.