The XV of France happy after the victory in Ireland during the 2nd day of the VI Nations Tournament, February 14, 2021. -

Brian Lawless / AP / SIPA

  • Three members of the management of the XV of France, including coach Fabien Galthié, tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. 

  • No player is, but after the revelation of positive tests in players of the French team at 7 who had participated in a training of the XV last Thursday, new tests carried out Friday and Sunday could lead to another result.

  • If it turns out that the virus has widely entered the Blues, the rest of the Tournament could be compromised. 

It would still be a shame.

Returned to heights unknown for ages with an inspired game, new faces that are well worth the price of the ticket (well if we had the right to go to the stadium) and results to thrill the All Blacks, the XV of France could well find itself at the heart of a health debacle which could break this beautiful dynamic.

At the Federation, we are holding our breath while waiting to know if the bubble in which the Blues had promised to stay to have the right to compete in the VI Nations Tournament will implode or not.

Everything will be played out there, between Friday and Sunday, with the result of the additional PCR tests carried out on the players at their home and then on their return to Marcoussis.

Because if no other positive case than those of Fabien Galthié, William Servat and a third member of the management was detected Wednesday within the France group, several elements let fear another outcome, this time.

A cluster among the "septists"

First, the promiscuity of the players with Galthié and Servat throughout the weekend, until after the victory in Dublin, worthily celebrated by the group.

The sanitary bubble is comfortable in that it allows you to relax a little on barrier gestures and wearing a mask when you are there.

But with a boomerang effect if ever it turns out to be porous.

Also, and above all, the Blues shared last week a collective training with several players of the French rugby 7 team, which we learned on Wednesday the placement in isolation after the discovery of several cases of Covid-19 .

Tested before training, the "septists" were all negative, of course.

But maybe incubating.

According to information from

Midi Olympique

, seven players who participated in this training are now positive.

And it is the English variant, very contagious, which would have entered this team, adds

L'Equipe

.

Moreover, if the players of the XV of France were all negative Wednesday, several of them showed a viral load "clearly worrying", writes the

Midol

.

This session took place last Thursday, and the incubation time for the disease is on average seven days.

Asked, the Federation did not wish to comment for the moment.

She still wanted to tell us that "the health protocol is the same for all teams in France".

The "septists" were therefore supposed to be also under bubble before integrating that of the XV.

In this case, it will be necessary to determine where patient zero comes from in this story.

"Analyzes are underway to establish a possible link between the health situation of the two teams in France," said the FFR in its press release on Wednesday.

The situation worries Marcoussis.

"We are required to be vigilant and discreet about this problematic situation for everyone," a member of France 7 told us. But we did everything that was necessary and made every effort to ensure that it did not there is no problem.

“We will know this weekend if the XV got through, but it would be a miracle.

A breach of health protocol?

Positive results from several players would inevitably have consequences for the rest of the Tournament.

Because it would already be necessary to get the green light from the government to continue, which is not won if there was a breach of the health protocol to which the XV of France had committed.

Then who would be available to face Scotland on February 28?

Could those who are negative stay in Marcoussis, knowing that the incubation period can sometimes be two weeks?

Or would it be necessary, as a last resort, to replace the 31 players with an entirely new group to satisfy the organizer of the Tournament, who we also imagine very angry in the event of massive contamination?

And then we should also look on the side of the Irish, with whom the Blues were put on for 80 minutes last Sunday.

The XV du Trèfle is waiting to see.

Tested Monday, the players are all negative, the Federation informed us.

Like the French, they were allowed to leave their bubble for a few days… Twelve of them returned to their club to play this weekend in Pro14.

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