FRANCE AND RACING 92 out-half Francois Trinh-Duc will miss the early part of the new Top 14 season after breaking his right arm in a pre-season friendly, his club announced today.
The injury, sustained in the 10-7 win over Brive on Friday, marks the third time in three years that the 32-year-old has broken the same arm.
The first time he was playing for France against Samoa in November 2016. The second break occurred in Toulon’s Top 14 play-off against Lyon in 2018 and ruled him out of the subsequent France tour to New Zealand. He has not played for France since.
Trinh-Duc faces an operation in the coming days and another spell out of action.
It is terrible timing for the playmaker after his summer arrival at the Paris club from Toulon, and for the club whose other two fly-halves Finn Russell and Ben Volavola are on World Cup duty.
Racing now look likely to start the season against Bayonne on August 24 with inexperienced 21-year-old Antoine Gibert wearing the number 10 jersey.
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He’s not as disappointed as some on relation to how far off they are? They are miles off. No offence to Munster but they are an average,though very gutsy and committed side,and they have hammers Leinster twice in a row now. I do agree that they haven’t had any continuity with combinations,especially from 9-13,and hopefully when the likes of OBrien, Healy, Moore, Teo, McFadden etc come back then there will be a big improvement.
I must take the opportunity to praise Matt O’Connor for the huge improvement in Guinness Pro12 teams. Ever since he arrived at Leinster, every other team has greatly improved. Teams, that two years ago were almost brushed aside by Leinster, have now reached the heights that Leinster once inhabited alone.
Treviso have improved, Munster have improved, Edinburgh have improved, Scarlets have improved, Dragons have improved, Zebra have improved, Connacht (brilliant tonight, by the way) have improved..
In fact, they have all improved so much that Leinster has great difficulty taking on any of them.
By extension, Wasps and Harlequins have shown just how brilliant they are too due to you Matt.
I can hardly wait to see how much Castres get better when they arrive at the RDS soon. They will build statues in your image all over the town.
Matt, you have done European rugby a great service. They have all reached and surpassed Leinster this season thanks to your input at Leinster and everywhere else.
Thank you Matt and Happy New year!.
(and also to Mr Caputo, the news paper seller. Your influence on all other teams has been exceptional)