Dupont and Ntamack return to France squad
SQUAD UPDATE: World player of the year Antoine Dupont and his Toulouse halfback partner Romain Ntamack have been called up to the France squad after recovering from Covid-19, the French Rugby Federation announced on Sunday.
Dupont returned to action for the first time since December 11 in the 15-20 defeat by Racing 92 on Saturday.
The scrumhalf – who had been waylaid by a knee problem before he contracted coronavirus – played 70 minutes of the match whilst flyhalf Ntamack played the entire game.
The duo’s return comes a week before France open their Six Nations campaign at home to Italy as they bid to win the title for the first time since 2010.
Ntamack’s rival for the flyhalf spot Matthieu Jalibert has also been called into the squad, the Bordeaux-Begles star having recovered from injury.
Head coach Fabien Galthie has also been able to bring back other Toulouse players who had tested positive for Covid-19 including prop Cyril Baille and second row duo Francois Cros and Anthony Jelonch.
La Rochelle prop Uini Atonio has also recovered from injury and is back in the large squad as is Racing 92’s veteran second row forward Bernard Le Roux.
The squad are preparing for the Italy match at a training camp in the south of France.
