France coach Fabien Galthie cleared of any wrongdoing in Covid outbreak investigation

Les Bleus’ Six Nations clash with Scotland was postponed after the French team reported numerous cases of the disease

Fabien Galthie, head coach of the France rugby team (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

France head coach Fabien Galthie has been cleared of any wrongdoing by an internal investigation into the handling of a coronavirus outbreak within the Six Nations squad, the head of the French federation’s (FFR) medical committee said on Wednesday.

Galthie was one of five staff members to test positive for the disease after France’s second Six Nations game, against Ireland, and tournament organisers decided to postpone last weekend’s clash with Scotland after 12 players also tested positive.

READ MORE: Referee admits to mistakes in Wales’ win over England

FFR president Bernard Laporte admitted that Galthie had left the training camp’s bubble to watch his son’s rugby game in Paris, however insisted that the coach was wearing a protective mask and had not broken any rules in the team’s Covid-19 protocols.

“In my report, I mention it at the start, it is perfectly clear that what he has done and whatever one might think, he had the right to do what he did, and there was no particular risk,” committee head Roger Salamon told French radio RTL.

French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu threatened to withdraw France’s authorisation to play in the Six Nations if the investigation was not conducted thoroughly, and FFR board of directors member Florian Grill last weekend called for an independent investigation.

A FFR spokesperson told Reuters on Wednesday that the investigation report would not be made public.

Les Bleus, who won their first two Six Nations games, travel to England on 13 March.

Rugby coverage is brought to you in association with QBE who help businesses build resilience through risk management and insurance. For more information go to QBEEUROPE.com

Reuters