France drop Picamoles for disrespecting referee
Tue Feb 25, 2014 12:21pm GMT
France's Louis Picamoles (R) fights for the ball with Italy's Leonardo Sarto as he runs to score a try during their Six Nations rugby union match at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris, February 9, 2014. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
(Reuters) - France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has dropped number eight Louis Picamoles from his squad to face Scotland next weekend because he showed a lack of respect towards referee Alain Rolland during Friday's loss to Wales.
The Toulouse forward appeared to mockingly applaud Rolland after the Irish referee gave him a yellow card during the 27-6 Six Nations defeat, followed by a thumbs-up gesture.
"After that defeat we have made a number of changes due to injuries and to cover problems we noticed in the match in Cardiff," Saint-Andre told the France Rugby Federation website.
"But at the same time due to certain attitudes out on the pitch towards the refereeing group that have no place whatsoever in our sport.
"Respect is the foundation of our values. It is important to send a signal to all players who have the privilege of wearing the jersey and remind them it imposes duties and obligations."
Wesley Fofana and Yannick Nyanga were also been left out of the 30-man squad due to rib and groin injuries while Marc Andreu and Ibrahim Diarra have been dropped.
Clermont scrumhalf Morgan Parra has been recalled, although he faces a disciplinary hearing after receiving a red card for head-butting a Montpellier player at the weekend.
Prop Rabah Slimani, flankers Bernard Le Roux and Antonie Claassen, and centre Remi Lamerat have also been called up.
France are in a four-way tie at the top of the Six Nations table with Ireland, England and Wales.
Squad: Vincent Debaty, Thomas Domingo, Yannick Forestier, Brice Mach, Dimitri Szarzewski, Nicolas Mas, Rabah Slimani, Alexandre Flanquart, Yoann Maestri, Pascal Pape, Sebastien Vaahamahina, Virgile Bruni, Alexandre Lapandry, Wenceslas Lauret, Bernard le Roux, Damien Chouly, Antonie Claassen, Jean-Marc Doussain, Maxime Machenaud, Morgan Parra, Jules Plisson, Remi Tales, Mathieu Bastareaud, Gael Fickou, Remi Lamerat, Maxime Mermoz, Yoann Huget, Maxime Medard, Hugo Bonneval, Brice Dulin
(Reporting by Josh Reich, editing by Ed Osmond)
