The Top 14 features the best teams in French domestic rugby, with the second tier represented by the Pro D2 competition. To call these the premier faces of French rugby could be considered an oxymoron. No fewer than 207 non-French players feature in the Top 14, joined by a further 165 étrangers in the Pro D2. 

It could be more appropriate to define the partisan competitions as the genuine French foreign legion! While French aficionados would argue that this inherently weakens the French game, there are 43 foreign props plying their trade in France, ensuring that local front-row forwards are not moving up through the domestic system.

However, with the success of the Rugby World Cup, the great game is in brilliant condition in France, and the attraction of high-profile internationals such as Jerry Collins – the drawcard of these men – is contributing to full-house notices in stadia across the country.

French clubs are prominent players in Europe – with the top six Top 14 teams earning qualification to the illustrious Heineken Cup. Three-time champions of Europe Toulouse were defeated finalists last year, although they won the Top 14. This continued the remarkable vein of success France boasts in elite northern domestic rugby; it will not be any different this year.

The two new boys of the Top 14 could not be more different. RC Toulon - Les Varois – are well-known to the rugby world, being champions and automatically promoted from the Pro D2. The signing of great rugby league talent Sonny Bill Williams dominated Australian sports headlines in recent months, and former All Black captain Tana Umaga’s team already boast the fourth largest budget of all teams represented in France. Despite beating the 2007 regular-season ladder winners Clermont in the opening round, their recent 3-3 draw with Brive showed that they are far from the complete product.

Mont-de-Marsan, winners of the 2008 promotion play-offs, are regarded by many as a team just hoping to stay in the top tier with the smallest budget of the top teams – but their recent 27-22 loss to Stade Francais showed they can compete at the highest level.

Currently leading the table, Stade Francais have high expectations this season, especially with former NSW boss Ewen McKenzie running the show. All but unbeatable at Stade de Bouin, the 2006 champions' highest-profile signing is former Australian Rugby league international Mark Gasnier, but the demands of the Paris faithful are high.

Stade Toulousain, current champions and arguably the finest domestic team in the Northern Hemisphere – are 17-time champions and have their sights set on the French/European double after falling at the final hurdle to Munster last year. Unlike other French clubs, they did not go on a spending spree this year, but have bolstered their fly-half stocks with French internationals Frédéric Michalak and David Skrela. With France's longest-serving coach Guy Novés still the grand master, they are betting favourites to win the title.

Last year’s top of the table qualifiers and losing finalists Clermont Auvergne were the big disappointment last season after breaking every record and then becoming runners-up in the Top 14 for the record ninth time – leading many faithful to question if they can ever win the gong. Winners of ten straight matches last year, they are superbly led by Kiwi coach Vern Cotter – formerly a pupil of Wallaby mentor Robbie Deans. Much will depend on their scars of the final loss to Toulouse last year.

Of special mention are Perpignan, unbeaten at home last season, and beaten semi-finalists as well as losers to London Irish in the Heineken Cup.  However, the arrival of quite possibly the world’s best player in All Black Dan Carter for the highest-ever paid “sabbatical” will hopefully provide a late-season charge for the currently unbeaten team.

Castres, last season’s revelation, will hope to repeat last year’s heroics which were epitomised by victories over Clermont and Biarritz. They are led by Les Bleus captain Lionel Nallet and boast the signing of discarded All Black Chris Masoe. However, consecutive losses in the opening rounds does not bode well for the team with a burgeoning casualty ward.

Brive came of age last season after former French flanker Olivier Magne took the reins as coach and guided the team to triumphs over Toulouse and Stade Francais. Those results essentially saved them from relegation, and a major recruitment march should see them qualify for the Heineken Cup.

Biarritz, runner's-up of the 2006 Heineken Cup and three-time champions of the Top 14 this millennium, will threaten as always. With a new coach and new team showing a more attacking approach this season, they should threaten the competition.

Montauban, Dax, Montpellier, Bourgoin and Bayonne all provide threats in their own manner – but will struggle against the big-spending elite clubs. However, upsets will always present themselves in the French championship, highlighted by the stunning opening round in which Montpellier took the scalps of the defending champions Toulouse.

With 26 rounds taking the tournament through to June next year – it is the longest-running domestic championship in the world. It will be another enthralling tournament, but it is hard to see the defending champions not able to defend their title, as well as threatening to take the crown of Europe in the Heineken Cup.