France scrum half Antoine Dupont has been omitted from the France squad to face Scotland in the Six Nations as Covid-19 cases continued to multiply in the camp.
Dupont, who tested positive on Friday, was left off the list of 31 players for next Sunday's game in Paris.
The French Rugby Federation also said that hooker Julien Marchand and centre Arthur Vincent centre had tested positive, taking the number of cases in the camp to nine, including coach Fabien Galthie since France beat Ireland at the Aviva Stadium last Sunday.
Voici la liste des 31 joueurs convoqués dans le groupe #XVdeFrance à partir de ce soir à Marcoussis afin de préparer le match contre l'Écosse !
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 21, 2021
Suite à des tests complémentaires réalisés hier, Julien Marchand et Arthur Vincent ont été testés positifs à la Covid-19.#NeFaisonsXV
On Saturday, the FFR had confirmed that wing Gabin Villiere and prop Mohamed Haouas have tested positive for Covid-19. Both players have also been omitted for next weekend's third round of matches.
Dupont, the Six Nations player of the season last year, is reportedly asymptomatic and could, in theory, have observed a seven-day quarantine and returned for the Scotland game at Stade de France.
The French government is increasing the length of quarantine to 10 days from Monday.
The FFR also said on Saturday that two other potential squad members, lock Swan Rebbadj and prop Jean-Baptiste Gros, both of Toulon, had been in contact with known positive coronavirus cases at their club.
In total, Les Bleus made seven changes as the squad reassembled at Marcoussis on Sunday.
Dorian Aldegheri of Toulouse and Racing 92 pair Teddy Baubigny and Hassane Kolingar, who between them have 10 caps, came into the ront row. Uncapped Bordeaux Begles scrum half Maxime Lucu comes in for Dupont.
Centres Jonathan Danty of Stade Francais and Yoram Moefana of Bordeaux Begles and uncapped winger Donovan Taofifenua of Racing 92 also joined the squad.
After negotiations with the clubs and the government, France assembled a squad of 31 in a bubble in Nice at the end of January, but, along with other nations, decided to allow their players a break in the Six Nations bye week.
Before the players returned to France's Marcoussis training centre, they underwent tests.
The FFR announced on Saturday that Karim Ghezal, one of two forward coaches, had tested positive. The other forwards coach, William Servat, tested positive earlier in the week.
Galthie tested positive on Tuesday.
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