Here's who the Top 14 clubs have signed for the 2014/15 season

WITH ALL THE Top 14 clubs now back into pre-season, it’s as good a time as any to reflect on the recruitment made this summer.

A year ago, Leinster fans were dealing with the fact that Jonny Sexton was leaving our shores to join Racing Métro, but this time around there are no high-profile Irishmen heading to France’s top tier.

However, there are many notable names from other corners of the globe joining the Top 14 ahead of the 2014/15 season, including Leigh Halfpenny, James O’Connor, Toby Flood, Jonathan Davies, Zac Guildford and Gio Aplon.

Here’s who all 14 clubs have signed during the summer.

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Bayonne

Blair Stewart [out-half, Grenoble], Lucas Pointud [prop, Tarbes], Giorgi Jgenti [prop, Perpignan], Lalakai Foketi [Melbourne Rebels], Patricio Noriega [head coach, Stade Français].

Bordeaux-Bègles

Bertrand Guiry [back row, Perpignan], Sébastien Taofifenua [prop, Perpignan], Berend Botha [second row, Mont-de-Marsan], Julien Ledevedec [second row, Brive], Lionel Beauxis [out-half, Toulouse], Yann Lesgourgues [scrum-half, Biarritz], Francisco Gomez Kodela [prop, Biarritz], Sofiane Guitoune [wing, Perpignan].

Brive

Hong Kong Rugby Sevens Sevens specialist Masilevu has signed up to play union for Brive. Kin Cheung Kin Cheung

Nicolas Bézy [scrum-half, Grenoble], Benito Masilevu [wing, Fiji 7s], Thomas Acquier [hooker, Carcassonne], Russlan Boukerou [second row, Auch], Poutasi Luafutu [back row, Bordeaux-Bègles], Damien Jourdain [prop, Bourg-en-Bresse], Peet Marais [second row, Sharks], Marco Lazzaroni [back row, Mogliano], Paul Ah Him [centre, Samoa].

Castres

Sitiveni Sivivatu [wing, Clermont], Johnnie Beattie [back row, Montpellier], Yohan Montès [prop, Toulouse], Paea Fa’anunu [prop, Montpellier], Julien Dumora [out-half, Lyon], Thomas Combezou [centre, on loan from Montpellier], Théo Hannoyer [second row, Dijon].

Clermont

Zac Guildford [wing, Crusaders], Sébastien Vahaamahina [second row, Perpignan], Jonathan Davies [centre, Scarlets], John Ulugia [hooker, Bourg-en-Bresse], Nick Abendanon [fullback, Bath], Camille Lopez [out-half, Perpignan], Jono Gibbes [forwards coach, Leinster].

Jonathan Davie and Brian O'Driscoll Davies is an excellent signing for Clermont. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Grenoble

Gio Aplon [wing, Stormers], Chris Farrell [centre, Ulster], Jonathan Wisniewski [out-half, Racing Métro], Jackson Willison [centre, Blues], Charl McLeod [scrum-half, Sharks], Rory Grice [back row, Waikato], Paul Willemse [Blue Bulls], Rémy Hugues [prop, Dax], Ross Skeate [second row, Agen], Arnaud Héguy [hooker, Biarritz], Jono Owen [prop, Queensland Reds], Mahamadou Diaby [back row, Oyonnax], Xavier Mignot [centre, Bourgoin], Dylan Hayes [back row, Hutt Old Boys Marist].

La Rochelle

Alofa Alofa [wing, Waratahs], Jean-Pascal Barraque [out-half/fullback, Toulouse], Jason Eaton [second row, NTT Shining Arcs], Peter Grant [out-half, Stormers], Benoit Bourrust [prop, Cardiff], Romana Graham [second row, Exeter], Vincent Pelo [prop, Bourgoin], Jone Qovu [second row, Racing Métro], Thomas Synaeghel [prop, Biarritz], Benoît Guyot [back row, Biarritz].

Lyon

Deon Fourie [hooker, Stormers], George Smith [back row, Suntory Sungoliath], Pierrick Gunther [back row, loan from Toulon], Karim Ghezal [second row, Racing Métro], Julien Puricelli [back row, Bayonne], Stephen Brett [out-half, Bayonne], Emmanuel Felsina [prop, Toulon], Mathieu Lorée [scrum-half, Grenoble], Vincent Martin [wing, Toulon], Jerome Porical [fullback, Stade Français], Paul Bonnefond [centre, Castres], Charles Malet [back row, Narbonne], Mickäel De Marco [second row, loan from Montpellier], Masi Matadigo [back row, Racing Métro], Fabrice Estebanez [centre, Racing Métro], Hoani Tui [prop, Exeter].

Australia British Lions Rugby George Smith and Leigh Halfpenny will both be playing Top 14 rugby this season. Rob Griffith Rob Griffith

Montpellier

Ben Mowen [back row, Brumbies], Akapusi Qera [back row, Toulouse], Antoine Battut [back row, Racing Métro], Samisoni Viriviri [wing, Fiji 7s], David Attoub [prop, Stade Français], Benjamin Fall [wing, Racing Métro], Teddy Iribaren [scrum-half, Tarbes], Tom Donnelly [second row, Auckland Blues], Chris King [prop, Hurricanes].

Oyonnax

Leon Power [second row, Brumbies], Soane Tonga’uiha [prop, Racing Métro], Pedrie Wannenburg [back-row, Castres], Guillaume Bernad [back row, Bayonne], Olivier Missoup [back row, Stade Français], Maurie Faasavalu [back row, Harlequins], Riaan Smit [out-half/fullback, Cheetahs], Yves Donguy [wing, Toulouse], Julien Clément [hooker, Clermont], Yohan Domenech [scrum-half, Narbonne], Maxime Le Bourhis [fullback, La Rochelle].

Racing Métro

Brice Dulin [fullback, Castres], Luke Charteris [second row, Perpignan], Antonie Claassen [No. 8, Castres], Johan Goosen [out-half, Cheetahs], Casey Laulala [centre, Munster], Yoann Audrin [wing, Montpellier], Teddy Thomas [wing, Biarritz], Thomas Lavanini [second row, Hindu], Thibault Dubarry [back row, Biarritz], Anton Peikrishvili [prop, Castres].

Brice Dulin is tackled by Andrew Trimble Dulin should enjoy playing outside Jonny Sexton at Racing. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Stade Français

Hugh Pyle [second row, Melbourne Rebels], Adrien Oléon [prop, Mont-de-Marsan], Julien Tomas [scrum-half, Castres], Raphaël Lakafia [back row, Biarritz].

Toulon

Leigh Halfpenny [fullback, Cardiff Blues], James O’Connor [fullback/out-half, London Irish], Mamuka Gorgodze [back row, Montpellier], Guilhem Guirado [hooker, Perpignan], Gerhard Vosloo [back row, Clermont], Romain Taofifenua [second row, Perpignan], Alexandre Ménini [prop, Biarritz], Eric Escande [scrum-half, Montpellier], Jimmy Yobo [centre, Aurillac], Fabien Barcella [prop, Biarritz].

Toulouse

Toby Flood [out-half, Leicester], Neemia Tialata [prop, Bayonne], Imanol Harinordoquy [No. 8, Biarritz], Alexis Palisson [wing/fullback, Toulon], Corey Flynn [hooker, Crusaders].