The second or third row of the XV of France and Racing 92 Cameron Woki, hit with the scaphoid, will not be able to participate in the Six Nations Tournament, AFP learned on Tuesday, confirming information from Midi-Olympique.
Coach Fabien Galthié is to announce a little later in the day the list of 42 players called up to prepare for the first match of the 2023 edition, against Italy in Rome.
Hit in the wrist during the victory against the English Harlequins (30-29), during the 3rd day of the Champions Cup, Woki (24 years old, 20 selections) should be absent at least seven weeks, according to the bi-weekly. The former Bordeaux-Bègles player could be operated on and should therefore miss the entire Tournament, won last year by the Blues.
A key player for Racing 92, Woki played eleven Top 14 matches, including eight as a starter. He also started all Champions Cup matches.
A blow
Usual third line, Woki settled in second line within the XV of France, with eight tenures in 2022, and this absence is a blow a few hours before the announcement of the list of players summoned to Capbreton (Landes) from Sunday to prepare for the trip to Rome.
In addition to Woki, centers Arthur Vincent (Montpellier) and Jonathan Danty (La Rochelle), prop Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon), hookers Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse) and Pierre Bourgarit (La Rochelle), second lines Killian Geraci (Lyon ) and Florian Verhaeghe (Montpellier)… are all injured.
They will not return to Marcoussis before traveling to Italy to launch their title defense on February 5.
The XV of France won its tenth Grand Slam last season, the twenty-sixth Tournament in its history.
In addition to this trip to Italy, Antoine Dupont’s teammates will travel to Ireland (February 11) and England (March 11), they will also host Scotland (February 26) and Wales (March 18).