Sunday 14 February 2016 16:28, UK
France prop Eddy Ben Arous has been ruled out of the Six Nations match against Wales on February 26 after sustaining a fractured rib cartilage.
Ben Arous, 25, suffered the injury in France's 10-9 victory over Ireland on Saturday, the side's second win after edging Italy 23-21 in their campaign opener.
The news is a blow for France coach Guy Noves. Ben Arous was outstanding when he came off the bench against the Irish, he and fellow substitute Rabah Slimani turning the tide in the scrum.
France forwards coach Yannick Bru said Ben Arous, who plays for Racing 92 in the Top 14, would be out for between three and four weeks.
After the Wales game, France travel to Edinburgh to play Scotland on March 13, wrapping up the Six Nations at home to England six days later.
Noves is likely to call up another loosehead prop to replace Ben Arous.
Jefferson Poirot and Vincent Pelo are already in the squad, but Noves could look to blood some youth in Toulon's Florent Fresia or Clermont's Raphael Chaume, or choose to fall back on more experienced hands in the likes of Vincent Debaty, Xavier Chiocci or Thomas Domingo.
"We'll take our time to mull things over," said Bru, with the team to play Wales set to be announced on Wednesday.
