France have been dealt a huge injury blow ahead of their home-soil Rugby World Cup, as fly-half Romain Ntamack has been ruled out of the competition with a reported ACL injury.
The French halfback attempted to tackle Finn Russell, yet got his boot caught at an awkward angle in the pitch. This challenge on his opposite man left Ntamack in clear discomfort, and he was quickly mobbed by medical personnel.
Ntamack received attention from the physios and was then helped off the pitch, in France’s 30-27 victory over Scotland last Saturday. Initial expectations was that Ntamack has suffered a relatively recoverable knee injury, with France Head Coach Fabien Galthie believing it to be a hyper-extension.
However, more recent reports from French sports news outlet L’Equipe, highlight how the Toulouse man has actually sustained an ACL injury, with his 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign expected to be over before it begins. Ntamack will miss the entire tournament, in what is one of the worst-case scenarios for France to face heading into their opening match against the All Blacks on Friday September 8th.
This heart-breaking injury for Ntamack came just hours after England’s Jack van Poortvliet suffered an ankle injury, and the Wales duo of hooker Dewi Lake (leg) and back rower Taine Plumtree (shoulder) also departed early due to injury.