France discover player is ineligible hours after Six Nations call-up

France have been forced into an embarrassing climbdown after calling Castres winger David Smith into their Six Nations squad.

French rugby thought the Samoan-born player was eligible as a result of playing in the country since 2011, first with Toulon and currently with Castres.

But after naming him in the extended squad preparing to face Wales on Friday night they discovered he was not eligible to play as a result of having played for New Zealand at the 2008 Edinburgh Sevens.

French Rugby said they had a document they believed confirmed the player's eligibility, but when Smith arrived at the training camp he immediately told them about playing with the All Blacks. As a result he is being released back to his club.

David Smith pas éligible avec le XV de France. Son remplaçant annoncé lundi matin #AFP

— Jérémy Marot (@JeremyMarot) February 21, 2016

H/T: Newstalk