Forced off in the 14th minute against Stade Français, the Bordeaux fly-half has a torn right quadriceps. The diagnosis has not changed since Monday. It is the timeframe that has been revised.

Four weeks, announced by the player

Matthieu Jalibert has a torn right quadriceps, revealed by a scan on Monday. That day, Sud Ouest, L’Équipe and RMC Sport reported six to eight weeks out. On Tuesday, the player gave the timeframe himself on Instagram: four weeks out.

The Union Bordeaux-Bègles fly-half went off in the 14th minute of Sunday’s win over Stade Français, replaced by Hugo Reus. He had played every minute of the opening two rounds.

A small setback, following a quadriceps tear. Four weeks out (…) We’ll be back, as always

Matthieu Jalibert | Instagram

Four Bordeaux matches instead of six

Counted from his injury on 20 September, that timeframe rules him out of four Bordeaux-Bègles fixtures: the trip to Perpignan on Saturday, the visit of Lyon on 3 October, the trip to Clermont on 10 October and the Champions Cup opener at Gloucester on 16 October. At six to eight weeks, the absence would have covered at least six matches, up to La Rochelle and Bayonne at the end of October.

To replace him, Bordeaux have Hugo Reus, the only specialist fly-half in the senior squad, as well as Maxime Lucu and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, both already tried in the position.

Same place, same time of year

This is a recurrence. RMC Sport notes that he injured the same quadriceps last season, at the same time of year, and the winter before.

Our data bears it out. In 2025, after Bordeaux-Bayonne on 25 October, Jalibert did not play for 27 days and featured in none of France’s November Tests. The winter before, he went 34 days without a match, between 8 December 2024 and 11 January 2025.

Back in the running for November

Four weeks brings him back by mid-October, before France assemble at Marcoussis on 25 October. France host Fiji in Lyon on 7 November, then South Africa on the 13th and Argentina on the 21st, before the Nations Championship finals weekend at Twickenham.

France’s starting fly-half during the last Six Nations, he played all three July Tests, one at number 10 and two at full-back.

Chiffres à retenir

4 weeks out, announced by Jalibert himself, against six to eight reported the day before

4 Bordeaux matches affected, up to Gloucester in the Champions Cup on 16 October

27 days without a game last year after the same injury, missing every November Test

25 October when France assemble at Marcoussis

7 November France v Fiji in Lyon, the first autumn Test