Perpignan's revolution continues

The old broom sweeping clean in French Catalonia, Marcel Dagrenat, is still making headlines in France.

This time, as well as signing South Africans Percy Montgomery, Phillip Burger and Gerrie Britz, Dagrenat is said to be on the tail of Bob Skinstad and Schalk Burger to round off his pack.

The new signings - and the new wave of money being spent - is a part of what is called Project USAP 2010, an unrestrained assault on the Top 14 title by the club, with that year 2010 the target for the victory, seemingly regardless of expense.

The moves and expenditure has seen an unprecedented level of support in the small Languedoc-Roussillon town, so much so that on Tuesday the fans organised a 'demonstration of support' for the multiple purchases, which as well as the three South Africans above, include promising young flanker Damien Chouly, Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter, international wing Julien Candelon, and Narbonne goal-machine Cédric Rosalen.

They also hope to prevent the departures of coaches Jacques Brunel, Franck Azéma, and local hero Bernard Goutta, who have threatened to leave en masse if the shareholders do not fall into line with Dagrenat's planning.

Elsewhere, Former All Black prop Kees Meeuws has returned to Castres, the club he quit a year ago after falling out with the coach.

Meeuws has signed a contract for two years in Tarn.