Montpellier (AFP)
The season is over for former international and Montpellier captain Louis Picamoles, whose MRI on Monday confirmed the rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the left knee contracted Saturday against Toulouse, said Monday a member of the medical staff of the Hérault club.
Picamoles should be set for Tuesday on the date of the operation and can prepare for a long recovery, as his return to competition is not expected before September.
The clinical diagnosis and the first examinations carried out on Saturday left little doubt as to the nature of the serious injury.
Picamoles (33, 82), retired from the XV of France since the World Cup in Japan this fall, was injured on Saturday against Toulouse (18-26), during the fourth day of the European Cup.
The player had been evacuated on a stretcher from the 3rd minute of play before being replaced by the Australian Caleb Timu, recruited at the start of the season.
In his absence, Timu should hold the position unless coach Xavier Garbajosa calls on young Martin Devergie, Kélian Galletier or even more on the South African colossus Jacques Du Plessis, used several times last season in this position third line center.
Trained at MHR, Picamoles returned there in the summer of 2017 after eight years spent in Toulouse (2009-2016) and then Northampton (2016-2017). He then signed a three-year contract which will expire in June.
© 2019 AFP