Stade Francais laid down a marker in Sunday's (AEST) impressive 35-24 win over last season's Top 14 table-topper La Rochelle.

The European Challenge Cup winner, which finished seventh last term, produced a stunning first-half display and held off a fightback from the visitors to put aside the disappointment of its opening-game loss to Lyon.

Greg Cooper's side was irresistible in the first 40 minutes, leaving La Rochelle to nurse a 30-7 half-time deficit as the great Sergio Parisse dotted down after Antoine Burban, Alexandre Flanquart, and Tony Ensor had crossed the whitewash.

La Rochelle, a winner over Brive in its season opener, proved a greater threat after the interval, but Afa Amosa's five-pointer and a late penalty try, adding to Dany Priso's first-half score, were not enough to forge a route back into the contest, with Marvin O'Connor responding for the hosts.

Newly promoted Agen got its first win of the season as Racing Metro succumbed to a 23-19 loss, while Castres overcame Bordeaux-Begles 33-19.

Elsewhere, Lyon downed Brive 29-14, Montpellier clocked up 21 unanswered second-half points to thrash Oyonnax 37-6, and Pau remains pointless after a 23-19 defeat to Toulouse.