Season over for Toulon's Michalak

Toulon's flyhalf Frederic Michalak will miss the end of the season because of a hand injury, local daily Var Matin announced on Sunday.

The 32-year-old, who came off the bench in Toulon's 37-21 victory over Castres in the Top 14 at the weekend, broke his right hand and will be sidelined for the rest of the season, the paper said.

Michalak replaced New Zealand wing Rudi Wulf after 44 minutes but needed treatment at the end of the game.

Toulon manager Bernard Laporte was upbeat about Michalak's health immediately after the victory, but Var Matin reported on Sunday that the flyhalf had undergone x-rays which showed a fracture in his hand, which if confirmed would entail an enforced absence of six weeks.

Michalak, who joined the three-time European champions in 2012 after stints with Toulouse and the Sharks, has already missed game time between September and March this season with a shoulder injury.

After winning 71 caps for France, Michalak is still holding out hope for a call-up for the World Cup, which will be hosted by England from September 18 to October 31.

Agence France-Presse