One week before the third match of the Six Nations Tournament, next Sunday against Scotland, the cases of Covid-19 follow one another within the XV of France.
The French Rugby Federation announced this Sunday two new positive cases, they concern Toulouse hooker Julien Marchand and Montpellier center Arthur Vincent.
Two holders during the first two outings of the Blues against Italy then Ireland ...
READ ALSO -
XV of France: "the investigation" on the origin of the outbreak of Covid-19 is progressing
It's starting to do a lot.
There are now nine cases of contamination in the French group: in addition to Marchand and Vincent, three other players (Antoine Dupont, Gabin Villière and Mohammed Haouas) and four members of the staff - coach Fabien Galthié, forward coach William Servat , that of the key Karim Ghezal and another member of the staff (whose identity has not been revealed) - had been contaminated.
As a reminder, no other team in the Tournament has had positive cases ...
In addition to this announcement, the FFR unveiled a new group of 31 players to prepare for the reception of the XV du Chardon.
None of the positive players has logically been selected.
Among the new recruits, we find: hooker Teddy Beaubigny (Racing 92) who replaces Julien Marchand, pillar Demba Bamba (Lyon) takes the place of Mohammed Haous, scrum half Maxime Lucu (UBB) arrives after the forfeit of Antoine Dupont, winger Donovan Taofifenua (Racing 92) replaces Gabin Villière.
Pesenti not kept, one more center
Fabien Galthié and his staff have also decided to waive the recalls, announced at the start of the week, of Toulonnais Jean-Baptiste Gros and Swan Rebbadj, considered as a contact case with the RCT.
The Palois Baptiste Pesenti not being kept, they only retained four second lines, against five in the group initially unveiled, to be able to take two three-quarter centers.
After Arthur Vincent's withdrawal, Yoram Moefana (UBB) and Jonathan Danty (Stade Français Paris) were therefore summoned to Marcoussis.
The promising Moefana, injured at the end of December with his club (injury to a ligament between the ankle and the tibia), has just resumed competition this weekend.
He played 55 minutes on Saturday when Bordeaux-Bègles defeated Brive.
With these five packages because of the Covid-19, it is a third of the XV of France that will have to be renewed compared to that aligned in Ireland.
Which should logically lead to the tenure of hooker Pierre Bourgarit (La Rochelle), right pillar Demba Bamba (Lyon), Baptiste Serin (Toulon) in the fray, Pierre-Louis Barassi (Lyon) in the center of the attack and of Teddy Thomas (Racing 92) on a wing.
Here is the list of the 31 players summoned to the #XVdeFrance group from tonight in Marcoussis to prepare for the match against Scotland!
Following additional tests carried out yesterday, Julien Marchand and Arthur Vincent tested positive for Covid-19. # NeFaisonsXV
- France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 21, 2021
Read also
Six Nations schedule and results
