He was in dazzling form… Forced off early in Toulon’s win over Racing 92 on Sunday evening, closing round 7 of Top 14, Baptiste Serin has injured his ribs and is a worry for both his club and the France staff ahead of the autumn tour.

In round 7 of the championship, RC Toulon laid down the law at home against Racing 92 (45-21), but the mood was darkened by Baptiste Serin going off injured. The France scrum-half, a starter and in great form this season, had to leave the field as early as the 27th minute, after a heavy tackle from Paris-region centre Joey Manu that clearly caught him in the ribs.

Serin, 31, had made a good start to the game, notably standing out in the move that led to Melvyn Jaminet’s try. But after the impact he stayed on the ground for several seconds, then was replaced by Scotland international Ben White, the Toulon man leaving the pitch holding an ice pack to the affected area.

The concern is doubled because France head coach Fabien Galthié is due to unveil his first squad for the November tour in a few days. And at scrum-half, France are already without Antoine Dupont and Baptiste Couilloud, as well as Bordeaux’s Maxime Lucu, who will not be back in action until the end of the month.

The Toulon man is due to undergo scans in the coming hours.