Top 14 – Update on the squad for the 23rd day

Perpignan

Sadek Deghmache suffered a knee sprain against Montpellier. His unavailability against Clermont has already been recorded, while there will be a decision taken at the last moment for Jacobus Van Tonder, who suffered a concussion during the derby and whose condition will be judged during the week. Sacha Lotrian, who went through the disciplinary committee, will ultimately not be suspended. With Giorgi Tetrashvili (pectoral) and Akato Fakatika (calf) absent, this is good news for the Usapists because only Xavier Chiocci could play on the left flank of the scrum.

Clermont

The Challenge Cup semi-final did not increase the Clermont infirmary. Despite everything, Alivereti Raka (finger) and George Moala (hips) are still unavailable, like Daniel Bibi Biziwu (hand) or Sébastien Bézy. Alexandre Fischer (hamstrings) and Irae Simone (knee) continue their rehabilitation. Étienne Falgoux (biceps) could be traveling to Catalonia, as could Benjamin Urdapilleta.

Castres

Arata and Chilachava are both suspended after their red cards received against Oyonnax. The absence of the Uruguayan scrum-half allows Doubrère to return to the group where he should be Fernandez’s replacement. Popelin, injured since the match at Gloucester, will return to number 10 this weekend. Staniforth returns. Palis (knee) is expected for the match against Clermont. Cope and Ardron (concussions) will return during the month of May. Romain Macurdy’s (shoulder) season is over.

Montpellier

Many uncertainties still hovered over the Montpellier starting XV. As for certainties, Anthony Bouthier’s season is over, and he will not return to competition until 2025. Willemse is still suspended and will only return for the last match of the regular season, in Clermont. Tu’inukuafe had neck surgery. Tauleigne could return to the group, but Forletta is in the infirmary, just like Van Rensburg.

Pau

Missing: Hugo Auradou (ankle sprain, season ended), Mickaël Capelli: (cruciate knee ligament, operated on January 19), Samuel Ezeala (serious foot sprain), Clément Laporte (rupture of the tendon Achilles, operated on November 22). The Section will also be without Brent Liufau injured in an ankle (fracture, dislocation, operated on December 17). Tumua Manu suffers from a thigh (injury), Rémi Sénéca from a knee (cruciate ligament, operated on January 25), Aminiasi Tuimaba is treating his forearm (fracture, operated on April 10) and Luke Whitelock has an Achilles tendon (lesion).

Oyonnax

There is not much movement in the Aindinois group even if the break favored the return of two players. Full-back Darren Sweetnam, victim of a muscular problem during the match against Racing 92 and absent against Castres, finds his place. Slightly injured during the same match against Castres and forced to leave the field prematurely, scrum half Vasil Lobzhanidze is also operational. Following a concussion in training, center Pedro Bettencourt is off for several weeks. Absent since November, second row Kevin Kornath is back.

Racing 92

After spending six months in the infirmary following knee surgery, Fijian international Josua Tuisova should make his first start with Racing 92 this weekend in Auxerre. Also returning to competition after being injured against Toulouse in the round of 16 of the Champions Cup, Siya Kolisi should start at number 8 on Saturday afternoon, leaving Baptiste Chouzenoux and Cameron Woki to occupy the corridors. The Le Garrec-Gibert hinge is logically renewed, when the “plane tree” Vinaya Habosi should return to the back of the Paris region. On paper, it looks good…

Bayonne

The second or third row Arthur Iturria (broken toe) has returned to training. Fullback Yoan Orabé will be able to return to competition this weekend, with hopes. Fijian center Sireli Maqala, who has returned to training, will soon be back. Gaëtan Germain, Pieter Scholtz and Pascal Cotet will not return for the season. Note the returns after their injury of second row Denis Marchois and versatile three-quarter Reece Hodge.

Toulon

Étrillard (Achilles tendon), Paia’aua (calf), Waisea (shoulder) are on the flank. Alainu’uese is still serving his suspension. Dréan (finger) has returned to training and is now fit. Rayan Rebbadj is available to France 7. Resting opposite La Rochelle, several executives (Abadie, Priso, Villière) will be present to welcome Lyon.

Lyon

Victim of a torn calf while scoring the offensive bonus try against Pau in stoppage time, full-back Alexandre Tchaptchet will be absent until the end of May while Gouzou (concussion in Perpignan) will still be preserved this week -end. On the other hand, many players (Kaabèche, Géraci, Okuya, Saghinadze, Pacheco, Radradra, Abrahams) have returned to training at 100% and emptied an infirmary which only has long-term absentees Thibaut Regard (Achilles tendon) , Jean-Marc Doussain, Dylan Cretin and Joe Powell (knee), whose season is over.

Bordeaux-Bègles

Lekso Kaulashvili (shin) and Antoine Miquel (concussion) have returned to training. Forfeited to face La Rochelle: Jefferson Poirot (neck), Sipili Falatea (cruciate ligaments), Jandre Marais (cruciate ligaments), Pierre Bochaton (ankle), Marko Gazzotti (ankle) and Nans Ducuing (hamstring).

La Rochelle

Once expected to make his return to competition against Bordeaux, Bourgarit (shoulder) is ultimately still considered “too tight”. A decision had to be made during the day on Thursday whether or not Paiva was seriously injured in the knee during the first leg (November), his 28th birthday. The former Girondin pillar applied but hesitations still remained in the morning as to the composition of the bench. The lights are green for Colombe (knee) and Berjon (psoas). Not yet for Kerr-Barlow (concussion). Injured against Toulon, Boudehent (hamstrings), Dillane (knee) and Iribaren (hand) joined Dulin (knee) and Wardi (wrist) in the infirmary.

Toulouse

Victim of a broken nose in the last action of the match against Harlequins, Blair Kinghorn will be exempt from the reception at the Stade Français this Sunday evening. As for Romain Ntamack, who is suffering from a crutch, he is uncertain. In terms of good news, the Toulouse staff can once again count on Pierre-Louis Barassi (hit in the ribs against Racing 92 in the round of 16 of the Champions Cup) as well as Théo Ntamack (injured to the iliac crest). Finally, Joshua Brennan (calf) is in the recovery phase.

French stadium

Rory Kockott, who left for South Africa a few days before the Champions Cup break, trained normally this week and will therefore make his return to the Paris sidelines. Joris Segonds, for his part, is offered a chance to prove that his sluggish season so far is just a misunderstanding. Kylan Hamdaoui starts at the back. Joe Marchant, very often used on the wing this season, will start this time at center, alongside Pierre Boudehent.