Already forfeit for the first game of the Blues in Japan against Argentina (23-21) Saturday, Wesley Fofana (31 years, 48 caps) is forced to throw in the towel. The center of the XV of France, hit against Italy in the last preparation match, August 30 (47-19), is injured in the thigh. "He goes back to France to heal himself," the French Rugby Federation said in a statement.
End of an international career
This package precipitates the end of international career of Fofana, who had indicated that this World would be his last adventure in blue. Bet lost for Clermont, regularly injured in recent years. He had already had to give up the last moment to travel to Italy in March, then to Scotland in August.
Pierre-Louis Barassi as reinforcement
To replace Wesley Fofana in the group, coach Jacques Brunel chose Pierre-Louis Barassi. This is the first time the 21-year-old Lyonnais, 2018 junior world champion, has been called to the big boys. He "will join the France group at the earliest in the week in Kumamoto", where the XV of France will prepare his second meeting on October 2 against the United States in Fukuoka.