Romain Ntamack ruled out of Rugby World Cup - report

France's Romain Ntamack has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup due to a knee injury suffered during a match against Scotland. L'Equipe reports that Ntamack sustained an ACL injury in their narrow victory over Scotland in St Etienne over the weekend.

While head coach Fabien Galthie initially described it as a hyperextension, the renowned French sporting outlet are now reporting it was an ACL and he will miss the entire tournament.

The incident unfolded as Ntamack attempted to tackle Scotland's Finn Russell before getting his boot caught in the turf. Medical personnel provided immediate assistance on the field, and Ntamack had to be helped off, displaying evident distress from the suspected knee injury.

Ntamack's partnership with Antoine Dupont at Toulouse has been a linchpin for both club and country, contributing to a Grand Slam win in 2022 and leading France to a notable 14-game victory streak. The untimely loss of such a pivotal player presents a considerable setback for the host nation, particularly given their formidable lineup in the warm-up match against Scotland.

France do have the luxury of Matthieu Jalibert as a replacement, yet even with this proviso, the loss of the Toulouse star is seismic.

As the Rugby World Cup approaches, France must negotiate two more warm-up fixtures against Fiji and Australia before their opening game against the All Blacks on September 8. Ntamack's unavailability casts a shadow over their preparations.