As announced by the French Rugby Federation, Louis Bielle-Biarrey will not be able to play in the French team’s match against Italy on Sunday in Villeneuve-d’Ascq (4 p.m.). The French winger, who should have started, blocked his neck. He is therefore forfeited. It was Matthis Lebel who was called to replace him. The Stade Toulousain winger was sent back to the club on Thursday. He was even scheduled to play against Clermont with Stade Toulousain tomorrow (9:05 p.m.). Matthis Lebel, who flew to Paris in the afternoon and will then join the France group, will start against Italy on Sunday.
According to our information, Bielle-Biarrey felt the first discomfort on Friday, during the trip from Paris to Lille. When I woke up yesterday morning, the pain seemed to have gone, but it finally returned at the end of the captain run. For Lebel, it is a journey that is worth the effort since his last selection for the French team dates back to the fall of 2022 against Australia (victory for the Blues 30-29; he came into play in place of Gaël Fickou in the 67th minute). He was not selected for the World Cup in France last fall. For his last tenure, we even have to go back to the tour in Japan in the summer of 2022.
He will finally have the opportunity to prove himself, especially since he had a successful first part of the season under the colors of Stade Toulousain, with 8 tries on the clock (out of 15 matches played).
