1
REPORT: Five France players now ruled out as two more test positive
By Ian Cameron
Two more French players have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing to five the total number of players that will be out of action for their Scotland Six Nations fixture this weekend.
According to the BBC hooker Julien Marchand and centre Arthur Vincent have also now tested positive, although French Rugby have not officially confirmed it on their website or their social media platforms.
Prop Mohammed Haouas, winger Gabin Villiére and star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont have already tested positive, while head coach Fabien Galthie and a member of staff are also in isolation after failing RT-PCR tests.
Jean-Baptiste Gros and Swan Rebbadj are also now in isolation having been adjudged to be 'close contacts' of those infected. Meanwhile, France have named a 31-man squad ahead of the Scotland game in Paris.
French Rugby have implied that the outbreak could have stemmed from a 'bubble' training with the France Sevens team, although the facts 'remain unproven'. France XVs trained with the Sevens, who entered their isolation bubble after testing clear for the virus, on February 10 and 11th.
"Despite all the precautions taken, following an RT-PCR test on Saturday, February 13, a player from France 7 tested positive for Covid-19. He was immediately placed in isolation in accordance with health protocol.
"In view of the appearance of this positive case, the Medical Committee of the FFR then met to address the question of the qualification or not of certain players of the XV of France in " case-contact " of this player of France 7 On medical criteria, it was decided that this scenario did not trigger the designation of the players of the XV of France as a "contact case".
"In view of the current investigations, the hypothesis of contamination of the XV of France by a player of France 7 is uncertain and is not proven."
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Scottish Rugby set for huge Duhan van der Merwe shaped boost
3
World Player of the Year was only a two horse race
4
The full list of 2024 World Rugby Awards winners
5
Latest Comments
I wonder how Leinster will use Jordie. I would rate the current centres there above him, and the rest of the backline is strong. Pity he did not go out to Connacht, or up to Ulster....both would really benefit from a player of his class.
Go to commentsI am saddened that this is how Brendan Mullin has ended up. I met him in the 70's as a 16 year old , when attending a trial for an Irish Schools age group sevens team. I was coaching in Ulster at the time, and we had a player in contention.
On the way back up to Belfast, he was on the train for part of the way out of Dublin, and I got to know him a bit. He told me was born in Jerusalem, lived some years there. He was now being educated at the rugby powerhouse, Blackrock College. He made that team, as did my player. His immense talent was clear at that age.
Go to comments