European champions Toulouse will be without French international backrow forward Louis Picamoles for between four to six weeks after he suffered a thigh injury, coach Guy Noves said on Monday.
Picamoles was joined on the treatment table by star centre Yannick Jauzion, who is definitely out of their next Top 14 match against Castres on Saturday after he suffered a foot injury when he scored Toulouse’s third try in their opening 44-24 victory over newboys Agen last Friday.
Noves has also decided to let French Six Nations Grand Slam winning fullback Clement Poitrenaud and fly-half David Skrela sit out the Castres clash in line with the rules governing players who toured in the summer with the national squad that they must be rested for one of the first three matches.
However, Toulouse — who captured their fourth European Cup last season beating fellow French side Biarritz — will be boosted by the return of French international trio national captain Thierry Dusautoir, Vincent Clerc and Florian Fritz.
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