Despite the curfew at 6 p.m. and the threat of re-containment, Fabien Galthié's Blues left their home in Marcoussis (Essonne) to meet in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) to prepare for their entry into the Tournament of Six Nations - if it takes place - Saturday February 6 in Rome against Italy.
Thirty-seven selected and five training partners took up their quarters on Monday on the Côte d'Azur under the direction of Fabien Galthié and his staff by submitting to drastic health measures.
Bernard Laporte, the president of the French Federation may claim that the Tournament will be played on the dates and in the format planned, nothing is certain yet.
The French and British governments are studying the situation and should take a decision in the coming days.
In France, the Ministry of Sports has transmitted the health protocol established by the Six Nations Committee, of which the French Rugby Federation (FFR) is a part, to the Interministerial Crisis Council.
The latter is preparing to decide according to the decisions that will be taken after the Defense Council.
The difficulties come in particular from the measures introduced at the borders of Europe.
In addition to a negative PCR test lasting less than 72 hours, a quarantine is in fact imposed when traveling between France and the United Kingdom.
The Tournament still in the dark
Whether during the international matches in the fall, or in their Top 14 clubs, the Blues in full revival have already got used to tests and behind closed doors since the start of the season.
They will be served in Nice.
Players and staff members underwent a PCR test on their arrival and will have to do it again in the middle of the week.
Wearing a mask is compulsory.
The training takes place behind closed doors.
All the devices they use are disinfected before and after use.
There will be no possibility of meeting a person outside this bubble.
The Hôtel des Bleus, located on the Promenade des Anglais, is fully privatized and its staff will be regularly tested.
The Tricolores will only leave Nice to join Rome at the end of next week.
A group already affected by packages
The captain himself, Charles Ollivon, was injured the day before the rally.
Sunday, during the victory of his team, Toulon, against Stade Français (35-13), the third row suffered a concussion in the 17th minute on an involuntary head butt from Antoine Burban.
The Toulonnais left the field but he joined the XV of France then.
His condition did not cause too much concern.
On the other hand, Virimi Vakatawa, the center of Racing 92, will not see the start of the Tournament.
Victim of a sprain (distortion of the internal ligament, revealed by an MRI taken on Monday) during the defeat of his team against Bordeaux-Bègles on Saturday (33-32), he should be absent between four and six weeks.
Three other Habs had to withdraw at the last moment: Uini Atonio, Jean-Baptiste Gros and Swan Rebbadj.
They are replaced respectively by the pillar of Toulouse Dorian Aldegheri (27 years old, 1 selection) and two neophytes, the pillar of Bordeaux-Bègles Thierry Paiva (25 years, 0 selection) and the second row of La Rochelle Thomas Lavault (21 years, 0 selection).