France lose fullback ahead of Six Nations

NEWS: Montpellier wing Vincent Rattez was called up to France’s Six Nations squad on Monday as a replacement for Toulouse utility back Thomas Ramos.

A regular pick for coach Fabien Galthie at the start of his tenure, Rattez was a notable absentee from the initial naming of the 37-strong squad.

The 28-year-old, capped eight times, will replace Ramos, with the rugby federation not specifying why he was now unavailable.

Galthie will now have only two out-and-out fullbacks in the squad: Anthony Bouthier (Montpellier) and Brice Dulin (La Rochelle).

The France squad meet up on January 25 for a training camp in Nice before a scheduled kick-off of the 2021 Six Nations in Rome against Italy on February 6.