La Rochelle pair withdrawn from France squad before Six Nations camp

Toulouse duo Georges-Henri Colombe and Alexandre Roumat have been called into the France squad following injuries to La Rochelle pair Uini Atonio and Paul Boudehent.

The change has come on the morning France are set to assemble at their Marcoussis base in Paris ahead of the Six Nations following La Rochelle’s defeat to ASM Clermont Auvergne on Sunday night in the Top 14.

Atonio, who was originally scheduled to start at tighthead at the Stade Marcel-Michelin, pulled out shortly before kick-off following an injury in the warm-up.

Boudehent, who was starting in the second-row as opposed to his more familiar role for France as a flanker, was replaced at half-time with a neck injury as Ronan O’Gara’s side succumbed to their fourth loss in their last five matches, leaving them in ninth place in the league.

The changes mean La Rochelle now only have one player in Fabien Galthie’s squad, Oscar Jegou, which was inconceivable when they were winning back-to-back Investec Champions Cup titles in 2022 and 2023.

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Top 14 leaders Toulouse, meanwhile, have a healthy representation in the squad after the changes, with 11 players out of the 42-man cohort.

These changes also come a day after Toulouse lock Joshua Brennan replaced club-mate Thibaud Flament in the squad, with the latter set to miss the Ireland meeting in the Six Nations as it clashes with his wife’s fertility treatment.

There is no clarity regarding the severity of the injuries to Atonio and Boudehent with France getting the Championship underway on Thursday, February 5, against Andy Farrell’s side at the Stade de France.