Marsh sidelined for double-header

France have been hit by a further injury blow in the run-up to this autumn’s World Cup after centre Tony Marsh was forced to pull out of their upcoming August friendlies against Romania and England with a calf injury.

New Zealand-born Marsh, who played a major role in France’s 2002 Grand Slam victory, had only recently returned to training with Bernard Laporte’s side after undergoing chemotherapy to remove a tumour.