Six Nations Tournament: New withdrawal for the Blues before starting preparation for the match against Wales

Anthony Jelonch forfait pour cette semaine de préparation avec les Bleus. MAXPPP – Laurent Theillet/SudOuest

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Anthony Jelonch is out of the French XV's gathering to prepare for the first match of the Six Nations Tournament, and the Toulouse third row is replaced by Racing 92 second row Romain Taofifenua, the FFR announced on Monday 20 January.

Anthony Jelonch (28 years old, 29 caps), whose unavailability period and the nature of a possible injury have not been indicated by the FFR, returned to competition in September, eight months after a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Called up to Marcoussis in November, he did not play in any of the three victorious test matches of the Blues against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina.

“Tao” called up as a reinforcement

Romain Taofifenua (34 years old, 53 caps) had initially been declared out by the FFR on Sunday, allowing the second row to Lyon Mickaël Guillard to join the group of 42 Bleus in Marcoussis.

Taofifenua, who came off in the 45th minute during Racing's victory against the Stormers (31-22) on Saturday, appeared with an ice pack on one knee, but his coach Stuart Lancaster wanted to be reassuring after the match. The French XV opens its campaign in the Tournament against Wales on January 31 at the Stade de France.