Paris (AFP)

Hard blow for the Blues!

The scrum-half of the XV of France Antoine Dupont, positive for Covid-19, forfeited the third match of the Six Nations Tournament, in a week, against Scotland.

The Toulousain, key player of the Blues of Fabien Galthié, tested positive earlier in the week and is not in the list of 31 summoned to prepare for the meeting against the XV du Chardon, neither the hooker Julien Marchand nor the Arthur Vincent center, eighth and ninth cases detected in the Blues for a week.

Asymptomatic, Dupont (24 years old, 29 caps) will remain in isolation for the next few days.

Saturday, it is the pillar of Montpellier Mohamed Haouas and the winger of Toulon Gabin Villière who had been tested postive.

They are also absent from the list, as are the Toulonnais Jean-Baptiste Gros and Swan Rebbadj, declared "contact cases" by the Federation.

In the staff, coach Fabien Galthié, co-coach of the conquest Karim Ghezal, forward coach William Servat and a fourth member of the Blues management, unidentified, had also tested positive.

Captain Ollivon (Toulon), second lines Bernard Le Roux (Racing 92) and Paul Willemse (Montpellier), center Gaël Fickou (Stade français), back Brice Dulin (La Rochelle) or wingers Teddy Thomas (Racing 92) ) and Damian Penaud (Clermont) ... appear in the group.

In total, the staff of the Blues has therefore made seven changes: Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse, 7 selections), Teddy Baubigny (Racing 92, 1 selection) and Hassane Kolingar (Racing 92, 2 select) on the front row;

Maxime Lucu (UBB, 0 sel.) At the hinge, Jonathan Danty (Stade français, 6 sel.) And Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Bègles, 2 sel.) At the center make their appearance in the group of 31, just like the winger Donovan Taofifenua (Racing 92, 0 sel.).

Leader of the Six Nations Tournament, after two successes in Italy (50-10) and then in Ireland (15-13), the XV of France must receive Scotland at the Stade de France before going to England on March 13 then d 'face Wales the following week.

The players were released Wednesday evening and return to CNR Marcoussis on Sunday to prepare for the match against Scotland on the 28th.

The Scots have not beaten the Blues at the Stade de France since a 36-22 success in 1999.

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