PERPIGNAN, France (AFP) - Perpignan's France international centre Maxime Mermoz has extended his contract with the French champions by two years.

Mermoz, 22, arrived in Perpignan from Toulouse last year and the four-time capped player will now be with the Catalan club until June 2012.

His contract extension follows that of fellow international centres David Marty and Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, who both signed up for three extra years until June 2013.

Perpignan, who are fourth in the Top 14, host Northampton in the European Cup on Friday hoping to rebound from their shock 9-8 defeat to Treviso in the first round.