Pape back after six-month lay-off

French national captain Pascal Pape enjoyed a try-scoring return to action on Friday after a six-month injury absence.

The 32-year-old lock suffered a back injury in France's humiliating 23-18 loss to Italy in the Six Nations in February and missed the rest of the campaign.

But the 46-times capped international was back in the fray on Friday, coming on as a second-half replacement as his club side Stade Francais were beaten 19-10 by Bayonne in a pre-season friendly.

Pape scored the second of two tries for Stade.

AFP