Fabien Brau-Boirie out for around four months

Pau lose their first-choice centre on the eve of Toulouse’s visit.

On Saturday night at Mayol, in Pau’s 41-20 defeat to Toulon, Fabien Brau-Boirie limped off in the 58th minute. “When you see him go off limping, it worries everyone,” Sebastien Piqueronies admitted after the match, as reported by Rugbyrama. Injured in his left kneecap, the centre saw a surgeon on Tuesday. Initial scans ruled out a cruciate ligament rupture, but he is due to have surgery next week, according to L’Equipe and La Republique des Pyrenees. Pau announced a lay-off of four to five months, with a return hoped for in March 2027, according to Le Figaro.

An ever-present start to the season

At 20, Brau-Boirie had become central to Pau’s game. He started all five Top 14 matches he played, each at 12, for 378 minutes. He also started in the Champions Cup against Leicester on 18 October, scoring a try in the 76th minute. Last season he scored seven tries in 20 league matches. Named in Fabien Galthie’s 42-man squad, he has five caps and started all three summer Tests in New Zealand. His withdrawal for the resumption of the Nations Championship, against Fiji in Lyon on 7 November, was confirmed on Monday. A four-month absence also puts the start of the Six Nations at risk.

A midfield to rebuild

This season Pau paired Brau-Boirie with Emilien Gailleton in all six matches they played together. Gailleton is at Marcoussis with France. Tumua Manu, twice a starter at centre, is an option, while Nathan Decron has been nursing a sprained ankle since 3 October. Pau have around a dozen players injured, including Alexandre Etchebehere (cruciate ligaments) and Siate Tokolahi, who hurt his shoulder at Toulon. Third in the Top 14 with five wins from seven rounds, Pau host Toulouse on Sunday 1 November at 9.05pm.