Agen enigma Rupeni Caucaunibuca has finally returned to the south of France six weeks after the start of pre-season training, but the controversial Fijian won't just walk back into the Top 14 team.

According to a statement issued by the club, the three-quarter - suspended since late July for the pre-season no-show - arrived at Toulouse airport at around noon on Friday.

He is expected to meet club president Alain Tingaud and assistant coach Christian Lanta at a "preliminary interview" on Monday morning to discuss what action the club will take next. "Nobody is immune from punishment here," warned Tingaud.

The 30-year-old was was due to arrive in France on July 8, but stayed in Fiji, he claimed, to undergo treatment for a shoulder injury from a natural healer. He was rumoured to be talking to Australian Super 15 teams ahead of the 2011 season, but he is contracted to the Lot et Garonne club until next June.

Lanta said that he had "no problem" with the Fijian returning to Agen, but that officials were never going to chase after him, and that it could be some time before the player donned the club's blue jersey again.

"We decided not to force him to come back if he couldn't respect the moral contract that we had agreed. Now he's back and we'll see where the land lies," said the coach.

"At the moment, because he's suspended by the club he won't be a part of the squad. It's not like we would have beaten Bourgoin with him. If he returns he won't play for at least five or six weeks, and only then if he's in excellent condition."

Missing inaction

Caucau has scored 65 tries for Agen in six seasons at Stade Armandie, but the general feeling among his teammates is that it's been business as usual without him.

"We haven't spoken about him," said flanker Jean Monribot, "and neither have the coaches. At the beginning people asked 'What about Rupeni'. But we've just got on with it. For me he's no longer part of the squad, we've built a strong group without him."

Hooker Jalil Narjiss put Caucau up when he returned to Agen from his last 'extended holiday' in 2006, but warned the Fijian that he would have to prove himself before he took to the Stade Armandie pitch again.

"He has to respect the rules of the squad and the staff, even if he is called Rupeni Caucaunibuca," said the Moroccan, who joined Agen alongside Caucau in the summer of 2004.

"Even if we are close personally, I can't accept these slip-ups. If he does return, it's in his interest to sharpen up and get in shape, otherwise we just won't miss him."

Narjiss, who was due to meet Caucau at Toulouse airport on Friday, hadn't heard from the player during his absence, apart from a couple of late-night phone calls. "With the time difference, he was calling me at two or three in the morning, but I was asleep!"

The Stade Armandie faithful are slightly more forgiving, and fan club president Nelly Berlato thinks the Fijian can still make a difference.

"I can't wait. He's still a star and he's the only Agen player with the power to lift the public. He's our trump card. You can't blame him, he's been like that for six years, but whatever anyone says, when he gets the ball, the crowd is on its feet."