Toulouse: Jimmy Tupou fails medical, Raphael Portat recalled

The Top 14 leaders are still short of second-rows with the November international window approaching.

Tupou arrived in Toulouse last week and watched Sunday’s 43-40 win over Exeter from the stands, but he will not play for the club. His medical revealed a previously undetected condition, the nature of which has not been disclosed. “Thankfully, medicals in France are what they are, it allows certain things to come to light,” the Toulouse coaching staff told ICI Occitanie.

An experienced Counties Manukau forward

The 34-year-old New Zealander, who can play lock or back row, has made 73 Super Rugby appearances for the Crusaders, Blues, Chiefs and Moana Pasifika, 82 in the NPC for Counties Manukau, and played three matches for Tonga this summer.

Portat steps in as the second row thins out

Emmanuel Meafou (knee), Thibaud Flament (shoulder) and Clement Verge (cruciate ligaments) have all had surgery and are out for several months. Jack Willis (knee) and Leo Banos (shoulder) are also unavailable, and Joel Merkler, a tighthead prop who has been filling in at lock, withdrew from the Perpignan game with a hamstring problem, according to La Depeche. Joshua Brennan, called up by France, will miss the international-window fixtures.

Toulouse are still searching for a joker. In the meantime they are recalling Portat for the international period. The 22-year-old lock played 17 Pro D2 matches for Provence Rugby last season and has three Top 14 appearances for Toulouse. Toulouse host Perpignan on Saturday (4.35pm) at Ernest-Wallon.