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France centre Virimi Vakatawa banned from playing in France

(Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

Racing 92 have announced that Test centre Virimi Vakatawa has been banned from playing rugby in France. The Parisian club confirmed the end of the 30-year-old’s lengthy playing career in France after he was banned by the LNR’s medical committee, but a specific reason for the ban wasn’t revealed.

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The club statement on Monday read: “Racing 92 has just been informed of the decision of the LNR’s medical committee to ban Virimi Vakatawa from continuing his professional career as a rugby player in France.

“Particularly saddened by this terrible announcement, Racing 92 gives its full support to Virimi Vakatawa and immediately put in place all the arrangements to support its emblematic player as best as possible in these particularly difficult times.”

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The New Zealand-born France international, who holds Fijian citizenship, earned the last two of his 32 caps this summer against Japan, starting at outside centre in both victories. That marked his return to the Test stage after over a year out due to injury.

While it looks as though Vakatawa is banned from playing in France for the time being, the statement suggested that he isn’t barred from playing elsewhere.

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The same thing happened to France hooker Christopher Tolofua, who was banned five years ago from representing his country due to a spinal problem while still being able to play for Saracens. However, the ban was lifted after surgery, resulting in him moving to Toulon.

Vakatawa, the powerful centre. was missing from the Racing squad for their opening match of the Top 14 season on Saturday against Castres, which his side won 25-19. A press conference on Tuesday is expected to provide more details on this shock announcement and what the future holds for Vakatawa.

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RedWarriors 7 hours ago
'Not a normal rugby team' - The Leinster flex that floored Jake White

I was actually at the match. Leinster were the outstanding team in the league stage. Leinster’s squad depth meant the Bulls could only nick a late win in Pretoria against an understrenght Leinster. Simple put, Leinster are significantly better this year compared to last. The Dublin match last year was a big win by Leinster. Yes they won by a point in the RDS three years ago but thats not relevant to yesterday.

As Leinster are such a dangerous team, it forces an opponent to focus on a strategy to undermine them and that way get their game on the pitch. Leinster allowed that against Northampton. But that was not going to happen again. The Bulls attack in last 10 minutes of the first half was as savage as anything in the URC this year. Yet Leinsters coaching plan repelled them allied to savage commitment from the players. The defense was outstanding, pressure at breakdown outstanding. Leinster did not win the European cup but arguably at their best this year no other European team could reach that height. They reached that yesterday. Leinster completely removed Bulls ability to hurt them.

And Croke Park….100 years ago the Brits fired machine guns into spectators injuring 100s and killing loads. No Irish team ever performs badly there. Same with Irish supporters. Opposition players might as well be Brit Tommies with machine guns.

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