Short notice... But is anyone available for a game of rugby?

Asking for a friend…

If you have nothing better to do in the next few hours, one club has issued a plea for some players with no other commitments ahead of a small, unimportant match.

You are sure to be guaranteed a very warm welcome from the loyal fans who regularly turn out to see their side in action, no matter what the weather.

The only problem is you will have to make your own way to Marseille’s Stade Velodrome in time for the match – a Top 14 semi-final between La Rochelle and Toulon.

bonjour je cherche des volontaires pour jouer un match de rugby demain à 21h

— Mourad Boudjellal (@mouradhfc) May 25, 2017

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal posted the tongue-in-cheek appeal on his Twitter feed in response to a growing absentee list ahead of the club’s last-four match against La Rochelle, which is broadcast on Rugby Pass.

His message reads: “Hello, I am looking for volunteers to play a match tomorrow at 9pm”

François Trinh-Duc, and Laurent Delboubes joined a long queue of players waiting outside the physio’s office at the club after they picked up injuries in last weekend’s intense ‘barrage’ encounter at Stade Mayol against Castres Olympique.

In fact, the injury crisis at the club ahead of the big match is so severe that 21-year-old fly-half Anthony Belleau is set to make just the third start of his professional career opposite Australian veteran Brock James.

Meanwhile, Matt Giteau, whose playing career in France seemed over after he took on a short-term role as backs coach to see out the remaining months of an injury-hit final season at the club, will strap on his boots as and join the replacements on the bench.

Ma’a Nonu is unavailable for personal reasons.

So, if you can make it to the Velodrome… Mourad and a few thousand Toulon fans may well be grateful.