Bad news for fans of the XV of France.
We will still have to wait to see Matthieu Jalibert again in the blue jersey.
Summoned by coach Fabien Galthié among the 42 internationals to prepare for the trip to Wales next Friday, during the 4th day of the Six Nations tournament, the 23-year-old opener from Bordeaux was forced to forfeit.
The Federation confirmed the information this Sunday in a press release, also specifying that Thomas Jolmes, partner of Jalibert at the UBB, was also forfeited for this gathering.
Thomas Jolmes and Matthieu Jalibert are out.
Swan Rebbadj and Antoine Hastoy have been selected to join the group of 42 #XVdeFrance players to prepare for the match against Wales!
#Don'tDoXV
– France Rugby (@FranceRugby) March 6, 2022
In trouble with his right thigh since mid-January, Jalibert was to return to play on Saturday when Pau came to Bordeaux.
But after feeling a new pain in the warm-up, the opening half finally remained on the sidelines the whole match, his face closed in front of the laborious performance of his teammates.
His club was indeed beaten (23-16) and missed the opportunity to consolidate its first place in the Top 14.
Matthieu Jalibert (15 selections) has not reappeared in a match since the victory (45-10) of Bordeaux against the Welsh Scarlets in the European Cup.
The Bordelais has therefore not played a single match in the Six Nations tournament this season.
Despite this blow, the XV of France, still undefeated, will try to continue its beautiful harvest against Wales on Friday.
To compensate for these absences, the tricolor staff summoned the 2nd line Toulonnais Swan Rebbadj (3 selections, 27 years old) and the Pau opening half Antoine Hastoy (1 selection, 24 years old) very prominent on Saturday during the victory of the Béarnais at Bordeaux (16-23).
