France centre Wesley Fofana has been ruled out of the final match of the Six Nations on Saturday against Italy in Rome through injury, and will be replaced by Geoffrey Doumayrou, the French Rugby Federation announced.
Fofana, 31, who has 46 caps to his name, had been set to make his return after missing France’s three previous games, but is reported to have picked up an injury in training on Friday.
Doumayrou, 29, will joins Mathieu Bastareaud in midfield, a pairing favoured by coach Jacques Brunel for most of 2018.
The last time the duo played together was on February 10 when France suffered a heavy 44-8 defeat to England.
France with just one victory in the tournament against Scotland take on winless Italy in the Stadio Olimpico.
France (15-1)
Maxime Medard; Damien Penaud, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Mathieu Bastareaud, Yoann Huget; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont; Louis Picamoles, Yacouba Camara, Gregory Alldritt; Paul Willemse, Felix Lambey; Demba Bamba, Guilhem Guirado (capt), Etienne Falgoux
Remplacements: Camille Chat, Dany Priso, Dorian Aldegheri, Paul Gabrillagues, Arthur Iturria, Baptiste Serin, Camille Lopez, Thomas Ramos
