Five more France rugby players have tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss the Six Nations match against Scotland, the team said Monday.
It takes the total number of players in the squad to have contracted COVID-19 to 10, massively depleting France coach Fabien Galthie’s options as Les Tricolores go for a third straight win to open the competition.
Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Romain Taofifenua, Charles Ollivon and Brice Dulin are the latest players to have tested positive following checks carried out on Sunday.
French players celebrate at the end of the Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and France Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. France won the match 15-13. (Brian Lawless, Pool via AP)
Scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, along with props Julien Marchand and Mohammed Haouas, center Arthur Vincent and winger Gabin Villiere, previously tested positive for the virus.
Two other squad players — lock Swann Rebbadj and prop Jean-Baptiste Gros — were left out of the squad after being considered to have been in contact with two teammates from club side Toulon who tested positive.
Galthie also has tested positive, along with assistant William Servat and lineout coach Karim Ghezal.
Five plyers have been added to the squad ahead of the team’s scheduled return to training on Wednesday, the French Rugby Federation said. The game against Scotland is on Sunday.
France has started the Six Nations with wins over Italy and Ireland.
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports