ANTOINE DUPONT, the French scrum-half, has returned a positive Covid result, throwing further doubt over the prospect of next weekend’s Six Nations round three match against Scotland in Paris going ahead as planned.
Three members of the French back-room staff, including head coach Fabien Galthié and forwards coach William Servat, tested positive to the virus earlier this week, but all players returned negative results from two rounds of testing on Sunday and Tuesday nights.
The players have been in isolation since the first positive result was returned, and have spent the last two days at home with their families.
They were tested again this morning and of the first 12 results returned, 11 were negative, with Dupont’s the only positive result.
Another round of testing will take place when the players return to camp on Sunday.
A statement from Fédération Française de Rugby [FFR] said:
Following the first PCR tests carried out this Friday, February 19 in the morning, the first 12 results indicate 11 negative results.
The players tested negative for Covid-19 are Dorian ALDEGHERI Julien MARCHAND, Peato MAUVAKA, Cyril BAILLE, Dylan CRETIN, Charles OLLIVON, Anthony BOUTHIER, Louis CARBONEL, Romain TAOFIFENUA, Paul WILLEMSE, Arthur VINCENT.
The player who tested positive for Covid-19 is Antoine DUPONT. To date, he is asymptomatic. In accordance with health protocol, he will remain in solitary confinement for the next few days.
Third member of France’s backroom team tests positive to Covid
Best wishes to him,I hope he makes a swift recovery. You want to see the best players playing, and hes the best SH in northern hemisphere at the moment.
Oh no! what a shame.