The French giants have reportedly offered half of what Leicester believe to be an accurate valuation for Dupuy and the Tigers' head coach, Richard Cockerill, has told the Leicester Mercury that unless Stade Francais meet their demands then Dupuy will remain at Welford Road next season.

"Julien is still under contract to us. We have given Stade Francais a price and they have not agreed that price yet.

"After the Heineken Cup final, we contacted Julien's advisors and advised them that the price has to be right because we are not letting our best players go to play for our rivals.

"You can't let your best players go for a small amount can you? I think the transfer fee Stade Francais wanted us to pay for Juan Martin Hernandez was three times what they are offering for Julien."

The SRU have whittled the list down to "three or four individuals" according to chief executive Gordon McKie who heads a five-man panel that has been interviewing candidates to replace Frank Hadden as head coach of the senior side for a number of weeks.

"If we can make the appointment in time for June, when our A team go on tour then that would be fine. But it's not essential."

Webster, capped 37 times by Scotland, wants to build on his achievments in the next three seasons. The 28-year-old said: "I'm really pleased to be staying at Edinburgh. I've been here for seven years, so by the time this new contract finishes I would have spent 10 years with the club.

"I love the city and the club; I feel really settled here. Edinburgh have just recorded our best ever finish in the Magners League and I genuinely believe we can progress further in order to challenge for trophies."

Van der Merwe, who moved to Canada from South Africa, has made a recent return to action after 15 months out with complications from a broken ankle and is presently in the Canada squad for the summer test series.