France captain Guilhem Guirado is set to miss the start of the Top 14 season as he recovers from a knee injury picked up at the end of last season.
Guirado, who led France in all five games of the RBS 6 Nations this year, was forced off during the Top 14 final while in action for club side Toulon in Barcelona in June and this week underwent an MRI.
While the results were positive, he has been ruled out of the start of the new campaign which kicks off on August 20.
Trinh-Duc raring to go
One player who will be ready for the new season at Toulon is France fly-half François Trinh-Duc, who arrived from Montpellier this summer.
The 29-year-old made his playing return for France on their summer tour to Argentina, starting the victorious second Test against the Pumas.
And having struggled for game time at Montpellier in the second half of the season, Trinh-Duc admitted it was good to have finished his campaign on a high ahead of a change of environment with Toulon.
“The tour to Argentina was a breath of fresh air. I was able to go off on my holidays on a good note after a season where I hadn’t played much,” said Trinh-Duc, who joins a Toulon side now coached by former Italy fly-half Diego Dominguez after Bernard Laporte stepped down at the end of the season.
“It’s a big challenge for me. I was used to Montpellier, I spent 11 years there as a pro and you don’t forget that in a hurry. I have good memories but now I want to look forward. I’m changing club and changing life. With my family we already feel very good here.
“I arrive here on tip toes with the aim of playing here and for France. The club is starting a new era with a new coaching team. We’re turning over a new leaf. It’s up to us new players especially, to write the next chapter in the club’s history.”
