De Villiers sidelined with shoulder knock

France prop Pieter de Villiers has been forced out of action for at least two weeks and is likely to miss his side’s friendlies against Romania and England after injuring his right shoulder whilst training in the Alps.

The South African-born player, who was reintegrated into the team after missing the RBS 6 Nations campaign following a failed dope test, fell off his bike and landed on his shoulder.

Medical examinations revealed the injury would not rule him out of the World Cup, but should keep him on the sidelines until the end of the month.

He will, therefore, miss France’s match in Lens against Romania on August 22 as well as their much-awaited first meeting with England in Marseille on August 30.

But the 31-year-old should be back for the second match with the English on September 6 at Twickenham.

“Pieter is only suffering from a dislocation of the shoulder,” team doctor Thierry Hermerel told www.lequipe.fr.

“This only requires up to three weeks break. We will undergo further medical tests when we get back to Paris but he was more scared than harmed.”

The France national team will be at their training ground in Marcoussis from the start of next week while coach Bernard Laporte will announce his squad ahead of the Romania clash on August 20.