The French Rugby Federation announced, Sunday January 23 in a press release, the package of ten players for the start of the preparation course for the Six Nations Tournament, in Aubagne (Bouches-du-Rhône). Among them, seven are affected by Covid-19: Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, François Cros, Anthony Jelonch, Cyril Baille, Gaëtan Barlot and Bernard Le Roux. They should be fit for the start of the competition on February 6 against Italy. It is not however guaranteed that they attack this Tournament in full possession of their means.
Due to injuries and cases of #COVID19, the staff of #XVdeFrance had to make 10 changes to the roster of 42 players, to prepare for the @SixNationsRugby from today in Aubagne.
Here is the new list of 42. pic.twitter.com/a5ysLw0yDZ
– France Rugby (@FranceRugby) January 23, 2022
To these players in isolation are added Cameron Woki, Uini Atonio and Anthony Bouthier, injured. The La Rochelle pillar played 60 minutes with his team in Glasgow on Saturday. The nature of his injury has not been disclosed. The Bordeaux-Béglais third line did not play this weekend. “Small glitch in the popliteal but nothing very serious”, reassured Woki on Twitter on Sunday evening. The Montpellier rear, who was to make his comeback with the Blues, came out in the 29th minute against Exeter after feeling a sharp pain in his heel.
To compensate for these absences, ten players were called up by Fabien Galthié and his staff. Swan Rebbadj (Toulon, 3 caps), Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse, 8 caps), Louis Carbonel (Toulon, 3 caps), Léo Coly (Mont-de-Marsan, 0 caps), Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle, 0 sel), Pierre Bourgarit (La Rochelle, 5 sel.), Yacouba Camara (Montpellier, 17 sel.), Jérôme Rey (Lyon, 0 sel.) and Thomas Lavault (La Rochelle, 0 sel.) are concerned.