A blow for Stade Français: Romain Briatte will be off the pitch for several months after an operation on his right shoulder.

The back-rower scored a hat-trick in the play-off win over La Rochelle (45-5) and hurt his right shoulder as he grounded his last try, after the hooter. He still gritted his teeth to keep his place for the semi-final lost to Montpellier (25-15), then went under the knife during the off-season. The operation went well, but he is expected to be out for several months. At 33, the international (1 cap against Argentina in July 2024) remains a central figure in Paul Gustard’s pack: last season he played 24 matches, 19 of them as a starter. The Paris club will therefore begin its 2026-2027 campaign without one of its most reliable senior players.