News:
French rugby rocked by
swine flu; Stade Francais snap up Nottingham's Davies
24 June 2009
French rugby is on full alert after an
outbreak of suspected 'Swine Flu' among the French
Barbarians squad following their return from Argentina.
Two players - Jean-Baptiste Gobelet
and Gregory Lamboley - are already being treated for
the H1N1 virus, and training at Top 14 side Montauban has
been temporarily halted due to the suspected infection of
team medic Dr Philippe Izard, who was with the French
Barbarians in Argentina.
It is feared that more members of the squad
could be confirmed with the virus over the next few days as
test results are confirmed.
Geoffroy Messina believes he could be
next. "The tests have been carried out in Marseille so I'm
waiting, but I have no illusions because I had too many
symptoms when I was on the plane. I have the treatment with
me and I expect the official confirmation to start it," he
told rugbyrama.com
Fellow tourist Nicolas Brusque hasn't
displayed any symptoms yet but confirmed that it was a
worrying time for all the players. "I must still take the
preventative treatment. Everyone must do it," he said.
In Montauban, meanwhile, training has
been suspended until Monday and all squad players have been
sent to hospital for tests, although no further cases have
been reported in addition to Dr Izard.
Argentina has suffered the most deaths in
South America from the H1N1 virus, with 17 fatalities
according to the Argentine Ministry of Health. The first
positive case of 'Swine Flu' was diagnosed in France earlier
this month (June 18).
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Elsewhere in French rugby Stade Francais have
confirmed the signing of 19-year-old Nottingham scrum-half
Charlie Davies.
The youngster only made six appearances in
National One last season but has now been snapped up by one
of the most prestigious clubs in Europe.
"It's only just sunk in that I'm going to be
playing for Stade next season because I have just been over
to sign my contract," he told the BBC. "I will be
mainly playing Under-23s [Espoirs] but I hope to get into
the first team there."
The highly-rated youngster added: "The
coaches said that if I prove myself by playing well I will
get the chance to do that. I will miss Nottingham, I settled
into the team very well and made a lot of good friends here
and the boys have been supportive.
"I will miss the general banter with the boys
and obviously I might get homesick, but my mum will probably
be out in Paris every weekend."
Perpignan's Scottish lock Nathan Hines
has copped a one week ban for a dangerous tackle during the
British and Irish Lions' 13-13 draw with the Emerging
Springboks. The ban means Hines will be ineligible for the
second Test in Pretoria, but available again for the third
and last match of the three-Test series in Johannesburg.
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