French Rugby

French prime minister Edouard Philippe on Tuesday said that the 2019-20 season of sport would not be able to resume, although the government’s measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus left room for games to be played without spectators.

Player welfare has again been under scrutiny after it was revealed that former All Black Dan Carter played the French Top 14 final for Racing Metro after receiving an injection of corticoids - a legal steroid used to treat inflammation.

Carter said he had the injections after suffering a knee issue in the semi-final. He was cleared of any wrongdoing by the French federation but Montpellier lock Robins Tchale Watchou, the president of the French players' union, believes it set a bad example.