The staff of the XV of France announced on Wednesday that Romain Taofifenua (32 years old, 43 caps) suffered a hamstring injury (behind the left thigh) and that he was exempted from training high intensity today. The FFR adds that the second line of Lyon, an essential finisher in the cage, “remains for the moment within the group of 42 players, pursuing specific physical preparation, while benefiting from care adapted to his condition.
The FFR specifies in a press release that “he will be reassessed in three weeks to determine the progress of his recovery and the possibility of a complete resumption of collective training”. A blow for Fabien Galthié and his staff… The XV of France faces, Saturday (4:15 p.m.) at Murrayfield, Scotland for the first of its four preparation matches for the World Cup (September 8-November 28).
Fabien Galthié will reveal his group of 33 players for the World Cup on August 21, Romain Taofifenua will not have played again by then. Currently, the third row François Cros (Toulouse) is also in the infirmary, affected by the adductors, and his teammate Anthony Jelonch – seriously injured in the knee during the last Six Nations Tournament – could return to the field next week with his club.