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Luckless Fofana set to miss second successive Six Nations

29 Dec 2017

Clermont Auvergne and France centre Wesley Fofana

Wesley Fofana will miss France’s Six Nations campaign for the second straight year due to a herniated disc.

The luckless centre ruptured his Achilles 12 months ago to miss out for Les Bleus and Fofana will again be a notable absentee.

Fofana’s club side Clermont Auvergne confirmed on Friday that he will require surgery, ruling him out for three months.

“The centre had been complaining for several days of various symptoms that alarmed the medical staff of Clermont Auvergne,” a club statement read.

“The cause of his symptoms are due to a hernia in the cervical spine highlighted by a scan performed in recent days.

“[He] will have to undergo in the first days of January a surgical repair…which will mean he is unavailable for three months.”

It is a particular blow for new France coach Jacques Brunel, who replaced the sacked Guy Noves this week.

France start their Six Nations campaign against Ireland on February 3, and end with a trip to Wales on March 17.

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Comments on RugbyPass

NK 10 minutes ago

Wallabies player ratings vs British & Irish Lions | Lions series

Italian roots, maybe he watches Serie A and gets inspired. Tbf, he played well otherwise.

3 Go to comments

AF 12 minutes ago

British & Irish Lions player ratings vs Wallabies | 2nd Test 2025 Lions series

This has to be sarcasm. I mean they were ok. But did not “show up defensively unlike the other three quarters”.

Keenan 50%

Lowe 50%

Aki 69.2%

Jones 83%

Freeman 100%

18 Go to comments

BC 18 minutes ago

'I thought it was a brilliant clear-out, honestly - didn’t you?'

It’s only in the Aussie' player’s dramatic and theatrical imagination that there was head contact. Did he go off for an HIA? Or have one afterwards?

4 Go to comments

BC 22 minutes ago

'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

A one-eyed Kiwi as well as loads of one-eyed Aussies.

2 Go to comments

DJ 26 minutes ago

What World Rugby say about Dan Sheehan's controversial Lions try

See the last paragraph of World Rugby clarification 3-2022

World Rugby Passport - Clarification 3-2022 which reads

“In principle, in a try scoring situation, if the action is deemed to be a dive forward for a try, then it should be permitted. If a player is deemed to have left the ground to avoid a tackle; or to jump, or hurdle a potential tackler, then this is dangerous play and should be sanctioned accordingly”.

As I said, 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. World Rugby needs to clarify their clarification! So did Sheehan leave the ground to avoid a tackle? If so, then Sheehan should have been penalised.

14 Go to comments

SB 32 minutes ago

Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

We won't mention 1996, because it didn't happen. It was 1997. 😜

Yes, we lost the 1997 series on the field, fair and square, no denying.

However, anyone who has done their research would have known that between the 1995 RWC victory and the record winning streak that started in 1997 under Carel Du Plessis, would know that SARFU was in a full blown crisis. Administration was a shambles, provincialism was rife, professionalism was ultra-disrupting. Ultimately, we conspired against ourselves, on account of so many key people that was involved in that disastrous two years.

19 Go to comments

Hazzaar67 32 minutes ago

Michael Hooper weighs in on Jac Morgan clear-out

Its funny but if a Brit so much as yawns he's called a whinger when in actual fact the Aussies are the biggest moaners on the planet when things don't go their way

28 Go to comments

TokoRFC 37 minutes ago

Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

It wasn’t.

😂 the top14 is played in closed off vaults solely for the billionaire club owners now is it JW?

It’s a good comp, he’s quality if he can play as well as he did there. Plus he caused havoc in super for 5 seasons anyway. Cmon mate

41 Go to comments

Cantab 39 minutes ago

'I thought it was a brilliant clear-out, honestly - didn’t you?'

Sadly the clean out was legal and the officials made the right decision. Until World rugby bans the dangerous head contacts in ALL instances it does make a mockery of the so called safety protocols.

4 Go to comments

BC 44 minutes ago

What World Rugby say about Dan Sheehan's controversial Lions try

It’s only on the goal line that tacklers immediately go to ground to try and increase their chances af holding the ball carrier up. In other parts of the field they maintain their height to make an effective tackle. The ball carrier has no interest in diving unless he is trying to score a try. It’s pretty clear cut to me as are the laws.

14 Go to comments

Bikerboy1971 52 minutes ago

Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

Funny how the Springboks fans DONT mention 1996 tour,when the Lions squad went there with no chance of winning,BUT walked away with a series win

19 Go to comments

Hammer Head 52 minutes ago

'I thought it was a brilliant clear-out, honestly - didn’t you?'

In the spirit of the game

4 Go to comments

AS 55 minutes ago

Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

Agreed, and some pundits trying to say if Liins win 3 to 0, they will be greatest Lions team ever, lol. I don’t support the Aussies, but I would next weekend, just to wipe the smugness from AF MI’ faces.

19 Go to comments

SM 1 hour ago

Michael Hooper weighs in on Jac Morgan clear-out

I think the emotion is taking hold here… much like Morgan's iron grip apparently stopped an incredibly strong human from standing back up….

28 Go to comments

SM 1 hour ago

Michael Hooper weighs in on Jac Morgan clear-out

I think Tizanno not being in the line may have more to do with the rolling around like he'd been shot buddy, in desperate search of a penalty or an Oscar nomination.

Last time I checked pro rugby players are pretty good at getting away from someone holding an ankle. A hand stopping a ~105kg bloke from getting up? Yeah, sure.

It's a bit of an odd thing to focus on in an (excellent) 80 min game.

28 Go to comments

Jimmy 1 hour ago

Michael Hooper weighs in on Jac Morgan clear-out

Tizzano was too busy performing for an Oscar - he almost shaded Nic White.

28 Go to comments

R 1 hour ago

Maro Itoje: What was said as Lions fell 'far behind' on scoreboard

Itoje, I can't stand the man. I remember the game where Faff made an utter fool of him.

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IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call