Former Highlanders full-back Tony Ensor has retired with immediate effect following an injury picked up in a Top 14 match in August with Oyonnax, the French club he joined in 2019 after an initial two years with Stade Francais.
The Kiwi influence at Lyon is still palpable as that club makes its way up the French Top 14 table.
Brad Shields’ Gallagher Premiership debut has ended in a broken cheekbone which now threatens his involvement in the November test series, including a possible match-up with the All Blacks.
Sergio Parisse was shown a red card in the first half, but Stade Francais made a winning start to the Top 14 away at newly-promoted Perpignan.
Former All Blacks supplied all the points for Pau as the south-western French club edged Clermont 22-21 in Top 14 action over the Christmas period.
Some are big names, some aren't - and some even ended up making the test side of the country they've ended up in
The Tigers may have missed fullback Telusa Veainu, after the former Canterbury wing, who has been great value for the Midlands club, broke his jaw last weekend.
European Challenge Cup holders Stade Français went down to a shock defeat against debutants Krasny Yar in Siberia on Saturday.
It was another busy week for the New Zealand contingent of players across the European competitions, with a handful making all the difference in their sides' fortunes.
Montpellier suffered their second Top 14 loss of the season in Paris and Lyon took advantage to go top.