Lyon lead the Top 14 on their own after three rounds. They will have to defend that position without one of their standout players from the weekend.

A torn triceps

Sam Simmonds complained of pain in his right arm after Lyon’s 51-25 win over Pau on Saturday. According to Le Progrès, followed by L’Équipe, the English number 8 has torn his triceps and will be out for around a month.

He was coming off a big game. League statistics credit him with a try, a line break, an offload and 12 completed tackles. He started away at Racing 92 and then against Pau, having missed round one.

At least four matches

A month out covers four Lyon fixtures: trips to Stade Français on Saturday and Bordeaux-Bègles on 3 October, the visit of La Rochelle on 10 October, then the Challenge Cup opener against the Sharks on 17 October.

Other absentees in the pack

Simmonds is not the only casualty. According to L’Équipe, lock Théo William, with a thigh problem, and tighthead Thomas Marceline, with a rib injury, are also expected to miss a few weeks. Lyon are starting a first block of ten consecutive matches running until early November.

Chiffres à retenir

1 month out, roughly, with a torn right triceps

4 Lyon matches affected: Stade Français, Bordeaux, La Rochelle and the Sharks

12 completed tackles against Pau, plus a try and a line break

3/3 wins for Lyon, alone at the top of the Top 14