Ten players withdrawn from France's Six Nations squad
France have been hit by significant disruption ahead of the Guinness Six Nations, after being forced to withdraw ten players from their 42-man squad, which is preparing for the tournament in Aubagne this week.
Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont, François Cros, Gaëtan Barlot, Anthony Jelonch, Cyril Baille, and Bernard Le Roux have all been removed due to positive Covid-19 results.
23-year-old La Rochelle hooker Pierre Bourgarit has also been removed with the viral infection although reports in France say he is also injured. He is replaced in the squad by Teddy Babigny. The Racing 92 frontrower has one international cap to his name and joins Fabien Galthie’s training squad.
Added to this, back row Cameron Woki and giant tighthead Uini Atonio have also been removed due to injury.
Swan Rebbadj, Dorian Aldegheri, Louis Carbonel, Léo Coly, Paul Boudehent, Yacouba Camara, Jérôme Rey and Thomas Lavault have been drafted in as replacements.
UPDATED FRENCH SQUAD:
FORWARDS:
Dorian Aldegheri (Stade Toulousain)
Gregory Alldritt (Stade Rochelais)
Demba Bamba(LOU Rugby)
Teddy Baubigny (Racing 92)
Daniel Bibi Biziwu (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Paul Boudehent(Rochelais Stadium)
Yacouba Camara (Montpellier Hérault Rugby)
Dylan Cretin(LOU Rugby)
Ibrahim Diallo (Racing 92)
Thibaud Flament (Stade Toulousain)
Jean-baptiste Gros (RC Toulon)
Mohamed Haouas (Montpellier Hérault Rugby)
Thomas Lavault (Rochelais Stadium)
Sekou Macalou (French Stadium Paris)
Julien Marchand (Stade Toulousain)
Peato Mauvaka (Stade Toulousain)
Swan Rebbadj(RC Toulon)
Jérôme Rey(LOU Rugby)
Yoan Tanga (Racing 92)
Romain Taofifenua (LOU Rugby)
Florent Vanverberghe (Castres Olympique)
Florian Verhaeghe (Montpellier Hérault Rugby)
Paul Willemse (Montpellier Herault Rugby)
BACKS:
Léo Berdeu (LOU Rugby)
Louis Carbonel (RC Toulon)
Leo Coly (Montois Rugby Stadium)
Baptiste Couilloud (LOU Rugby)
Jonathan Danty (Stade Rochelais)
Brice Dulin (Rochelais Stadium)
Jules Favre (Rochelais Stadium)
Gaël Fickou (Racing 92)
Antoine Hastoy (Pau Section)
Melvyn Jaminet (USA Perpignan)
Matthis Lebel (Stade Toulousain)
Maxime Lucu (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
Yoram Moefana (Union Bordeaux Begles)
Damian Penaud (Asm Clermont Auvergne)
Thomas Ramos (Toulouse Stadium)
Teddy Thomas (Racing 92)
Tanu Vili (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Gabin Villiere (RC Toulon)