France lose Chouly and Bastareaud for Ireland trip

PARIS (Reuters) - France will be without flanker Damien Chouly and centre Mathieu Bastareaud away to Ireland in the Six Nations after both players sustained injuries, the French federation (FFR) said on Monday.

(Reuters)

Chouly, who suffered an ankle injury during training earlier on Monday, will be replaced in the squad for Saturday's game by Raphael Lakafia, who is joining the group in Nice. Bastareaud suffered a knock to the head in a Top 14 match at the weekend and after having neurological tests he is not available to face Ireland, the FFR said.

He has not yet been replaced in the squad.

France started their campaign with a 19-16 defeat by England at Twickenham before beating Scotland 22-16 at home.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris)