Bosc blow for France

Catalans Dragons captain Thomas Bosc has been ruled out of the France team to play England in the Gillette Fusion international at Leigh on Saturday.

The goalkicking half-back suffered a leg injury in the Dragons’ 24-6 Engage Super League defeat at Hull KR yesterday and has returned to France for scans, while the rest of his international team-mates went into camp in Bury, near Manchester.

The loss of Bosc is a body blow to the French, who have a major doubt over winger or full-back Dimitri Pelo, who also sustained a dead leg in yesterday’s match.

“Thomas is definitely out and we’re working intensely on Dimitri, who is 50-50 at this stage,” said France coach Bobbie Goulding.

“We’re without 10 players from last year’s Four Nations but you’ve just got to get on with it. You have to play the cards you’re dealt.”

Bosc’s place has gone to half-back Nicolas Munoz, one of three representatives from French domestic champions Lezignan.

Catalans winger Cyril Stacul and Lezignan centre Michael Tribbilac, who was one of four new faces named in Goulding’s initial squad, both withdrew last week, to be replaced by Nicolas Piquemal (Lezignan) and Yoan Tisseyre (Toulouse).

Revised 20-man France squad (Catalans unless stated): A Bentley, R Casty, V Duport (Toulouse), O Elima (capt), J Fakir, D Ferriol, T Gigot, C Gossard, M Griffi (Toulouse), N Munoz (Lezignan), G Mounis, D Pelo, N Piquemal (Lezignan), F Quintilla (Lezignan), S Raguin, M Simon, Y Tisseyre (Toulouse), J Touxagas, F Vaccari, C Villegas (Toulouse).