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Knee injury rules France star Ntamack out of World Cup

By AAP Newswire

Aug 14, 2023

France rugby star Romain Ntamack. — France's Romain Ntamack has been ruled out of the 2023 Rugby World Cup after suffering an injury. -AP

France No.10 Romain Ntamack has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup because of a knee injury, robbing the tournament of one of its star players.

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The 24-year-old Ntamack ruptured cruciate ligaments in his left knee in the second half of the 30-27 victory over Scotland in a World Cup warm-up on Saturday, the team said following scans.

Matthieu Jalibert is set to fill in as Ntamack's understudy when the tournament begins in France on September 8.

"Romain, we are thinking of you a lot," the French rugby federation posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"The whole group is supporting you. We wish you a good recovery."

In his own post, Ntamack wrote: "I'll be back."

The exciting halfback partnership between Ntamack and scrumhalf Antoine Dupont has been one of the key reasons behind France's improvement under coach Fabien GalthiÃ© since the last World Cup in 2019.

France, which has never won the World Cup, is one of the favourites.

Prop Cyril Baille could also miss the tournament after sustaining a calf injury against Scotland that will keep him out for up to six weeks.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press