Toulouse’s Australia lock Emmanuel Meafou will be unable to play for France until the latter part of 2023 due to eligibility issues, according to a source close to the FFR – AFP report.
The FFR had requested clearance from World Rugby for Meafou to participate in the Rugby World Cup taking place in France from September 8 to October 28.
However, as the residency criteria was increased by World Rugby in 2022 from three to five years, Meafou, who was born in New Zealand to Samoan parents and moved to Australia at the age of two, does not meet the requirements.
Meafou arrived in Toulouse in December 2018, which means he will only qualify to represent France from the 2024 Six Nations Championship onwards.
Standing at an impressive 2.03 meters and weighing 145 kilograms, the towering second-row forward was not initially included in France coach Fabien Galthie’s 42-player World Cup squad.
Nevertheless, Galthie had hoped to include Meafou, who has committed his future to France, in the World Cup team.
RugbyPass also understands that the request has fallen short of receiving a waiver from World Rugby.
In any event, injury could well have stopped the giant from featuring at the tournament.
A L’Equipe update on the status of the injury read: “Toulouse second row Emmanuel Meafou, who has been complaining of plantar fascia since Saturday’s Top 14 win over La Rochelle in Saturday’s final, will be unavailable for about two months.
“This is obviously very bad news for him, but also for the staff of France, who will announce on Wednesday a group of 42 players to begin the preparation on July 2 in Monaco for the World Cup.”
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