Lievremont rules Chabal out of World Cup plans

SEBASTIEN CHABAL was left out of France’s provisional World Cup squad for sporting rather than political reasons, national team boss Marc Lievremont declared.

The 33-year-old number eight has been omitted from the 32-man panel under consideration for the tournament in New Zealand in September, along with Toulouse duo Yannick Jauzion and Clement Poitrenaud.

Lievremont, who has drafted in uncapped Biarritz forward Raphael Lakafia and also Louis Picamoles of Toulouse in Chabal’s position, insists the veteran’s exclusion has nothing to do with his ongoing disciplinary case with the Ligue Nationale de Rugby.