France’s head coach Fabian Galthie has tested positive for Covid-19, the French rugby federation said on Tuesday.
It comes after the country’s entire Six Nations squad went into self-isolation after a member of the backroom staff tested positive for coronavirus.
Galthie had previously returned a negative Covid-19 result but he was re-tested later on Tuesday and was found to be positive for the virus.
The federation did not say where the squad is isolating.
It said in a statement that additional tests will be conducted at the National Rugby Centre on Wednesday, with more tests to be conducted on Friday and one more round of testing at the national center on Sunday.
Earlier on Tuesday, it was announced that the rest of Les Bleus’ players returned negatives from Monday’s round of testing completed at their Marcoussis base.
“In accordance with health protocol, all members of the team and management were isolated this morning. Interactions are kept to a minimum,” an FFR statement read.
The minor outbreak comes during the first of the 2021 Six Nations’ two fallow weeks, meaning there is no immediate threat to their round three appointment with Scotland on February 28th.
A comprehensive schedule sees all players and staff undergo testing on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, before preparations for the Scots’ visit to Paris begin in earnest.
France have set the pace in the hunt for this year’s title by posting wins against Italy and Ireland to secure top place in the table as the competition nears the midway stage.
Ireland, who were beaten 15-13 by Les Bleus in Dublin on Sunday, have no positive cases among their camp following testing on Monday.
“All members of the Ireland squad and backroom team undertook routine PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing on Monday producing no positive results,” read a statement from the Irish Rugby Football Union.
“The group will undergo further routine testing again this week, as per our protocols.”