Barrelling centre out of Ireland clash due to head knock

pulse 20:21 - 20 February 2017

RC Toulon's French centre Mathieu Bastareaud is out of Six Nations clash away to Ireland after sustaining a head injury in game against Lyon

Barrelling centre Mathieu Bastareaud is out of Saturday's Six Nations clash away to Ireland due to a head injury, France said on Monday.

Barrelling centre

The burly 28-year-old took a knock to the head while playing for Toulon against Lyon on Saturday.

He took a "neurological test" on Monday which "does not allow him to be available for the Six Nations match against Ireland" said the French Federation in a statement.

Bastareaud was called up by Guy Noves for the first time in January having not been in the international set up since the 2015 World Cup, when Philippe Saint-Andre was coach.

He wasn't used in either the defeat to England or the victory over Scotland, though.