World Player of the Year Antoine Dupont and his Toulouse halfback partner Romain Ntamack have been called up to the France squad after testing negative for coronavirus.
Dupont returned to action for the first time since 11 December in the 20-15 defeat by Racing 92 on Saturday.
The scrumhalf – who had been waylaid by a knee problem before returning a positive test for coronavirus – played 70 minutes of the match whilst flyhalf Ntamack was on for the entire game.
The duo’s return comes a week before France open their Six Nations campaign at home to Italy as they bid to win the title for the first time since 2010.
Ntamack’s rival for the flyhalf spot, Matthieu Jalibert, has also been called up to the squad, the Bordeaux-Begles star having recovered from injury.
Head coach Fabien Galthie has also been able to bring back other Toulouse players who also initially tested positive, including prop Cyril Baille and locks Francois Cros and Anthony Jelonch.
La Rochelle prop Uini Atonio has also recovered from injury and is back in the large squad as is Racing 92’s veteran lock, Bernard Le Roux.
The squad is preparing for the Italy match at a training camp in the south of France.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Getty Images
