XV de France Training Squad Loses Three Players to Injury Before Tournament Prep
The French rugby team lost three squad members to injuries sustained during the seventh round of the Top 14 season over the weekend, prompting immediate roster changes ahead of the upcoming international window. The French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced Monday that centre Fabien Brau-Boirie, back-rower Marko Gazzotti, and fly-half Antoine Hastoy have all been ruled out of the opening training camp at Marcoussis.
Replacements Named for Marcoussis Camp
To fill the vacancies left by the injured trio, national team selectors recalled three players from Top 14 clubs. Bordeaux-Bègles centre Nicolas Depoortere, 23, joins the group with 10 prior international caps. Toulouse flanker Anthony Jelonch, 30, brings veteran experience with 39 appearances for Les Bleus, while Castres fly-half Louis Le Brun, 24, receives his first senior call-up without a prior cap, according to federation announcements.
Weekend Collisions Shape Roster Decisions
The physical toll accumulated across Saturday and centre-stage Sunday fixtures across France. Fabien Brau-Boirie sustained a left knee injury while playing for Toulon on Saturday, leaving the field with a pronounced limp. Marko Gazzotti suffered a hamstring strain during the match between Union Bordeaux-Bègles and La Rochelle on Sunday. In the same fixture, La Rochelle fly-half Antoine Hastoy took a severe blow to his ankle; his club coach, Ronan O’Gara, expressed concern over a potential ligament rupture.
Front-Row Concerns Persist for Fabien Galthié
The squad disruption extends further into the pack, where head coach Fabien Galthié faces mounting challenges at tighthead prop. Regular options Régis Montagne and Demba Bamba remain sidelined with injuries, while Karl Sorin and Dorian Aldegheri—who started during the previous Six Nations Championship—also picked up knocks over the weekend. However, Union Bordeaux-Bègles tighthead prop Sipili Falatea, who cut short his pre-match warmup prior to the La Rochelle fixture, avoided being ruled out and is expected to report to Marcoussis alongside the rest of the selected group.
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