Saint-Denis (AFP)
The management and the players of the XV of France are "very careful" with the Covid-19 and "everyone is negative until today", said manager Raphaël Ibanez, questioned Friday after contaminations among the French .
The women's XV of France, who trains in Marcoussis (Essonne), on the same site as their male counterpart, saw their last match of the Six Nations Tournament against Ireland, scheduled for Dublin on Sunday, to be postponed sine die after several cases of coronavirus infection.
"There is no doubt that in the current health context, we must be extra vigilant and that is what we have done with all the technical staff and players. Players that we have called on to be vigilant and who took their responsibilities, "assured Ibanez, 47, during a press briefing.
Before the decisive match for the victory of the Tournament, Saturday (9:05 p.m.) against Ireland at the Stade de France, the men's XV of France was kept in "its sanitary bubble", the French Rugby Federation said Thursday.
"The players are tested regularly on Monday and Thursday for the most part (...) and everyone is negative until today since we obviously have to be very careful and vigilant. This is currently the case at the level of the Men's XV of France, "continued the former hooker with 98 caps in Blue.
"To be clear at this level we followed the health protocol that was put in place by the Committee of six nations and declined within the XV of France by our medical commission," said Ibanez.
© 2020 AFP