- 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: what to know 20 years on
- Asia to mourn tsunami dead with ceremonies 20 years on
- Syrians protest after video of attack on Alawite shrine
- Russian state owner says cargo ship blast was 'terrorist attack'
- Crisis-hit Valencia hire West Brom's Corberan as new boss
- Suriname ex-dictator and fugitive Desi Bouterse dead at 79
- Syria authorities say torched 1 million captagon pills
- Pope calls for 'arms to be silenced' across world
- 32 survivors as Azerbaijani jet crashes in Kazakhstan
- Pakistan air strikes kill 46 in Afghanistan, Kabul says
- Liverpool host Foxes, Arsenal prepare for life without Saka
- Zelensky condemns Russian 'inhumane' Christmas attack on energy grid
- Sweeping Vietnam internet law comes into force
- Pope kicks off Christmas under shadow of war
- Catholics hold muted Christmas mass in Indonesia's Sharia stronghold
- Japan's top diplomat in China to address 'challenges'
- Thousands attend Christmas charity dinner in Buenos Aires
- Demand for Japanese content booms post 'Shogun'
- As India's Bollywood shifts, stars and snappers click
- Mystery drones won't interfere with Santa's work: US tracker
- Djokovic eyes more Slam glory as Swiatek returns under doping cloud
- Australia's in-form Head confirmed fit for Boxing Day Test
- Brazilian midfielder Oscar returns to Sao Paulo
- 'Wemby' and 'Ant-Man' to make NBA Christmas debuts
- US agency focused on foreign disinformation shuts down
- On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis launches holy Jubilee year
- 'Like a dream': AFP photographer's return to Syria
- Chiefs seek top seed in holiday test for playoff-bound NFL teams
- Panamanians protest 'public enemy' Trump's canal threat
- Cyclone death toll in Mayotte rises to 39
- Ecuador vice president says Noboa seeking her 'banishment'
- Leicester boss Van Nistelrooy aware of 'bigger picture' as Liverpool await
- Syria authorities say armed groups have agreed to disband
- Maresca expects Man City to be in title hunt as he downplays Chelsea's chancs
- South Africa opt for all-pace attack against Pakistan
- Guardiola adamant Man City slump not all about Haaland
- Global stocks mostly higher in thin pre-Christmas trade
- Bethlehem marks sombre Christmas under shadow of war
- 11 killed in blast at Turkey explosives plant
- Indonesia considers parole for ex-terror chiefs: official
- Postecoglou says Spurs 'need to reinforce' in transfer window
- Le Pen says days of new French govt numbered
- Villa boss Emery set for 'very difficult' clash with Newcastle
- Investors swoop in to save German flying taxi startup
- How Finnish youth learn to spot disinformation
- 12 killed in blast at Turkey explosives plant
- Panama leaders past and present reject Trump's threat of Canal takeover
- Hong Kong police issue fresh bounties for activists overseas
- Saving the mysterious African manatee at Cameroon hotspot
- India consider second spinner for Boxing Day Test
France captain Dupont among Toulouse Covid-19 positives
France captain Antoine Dupont is among Toulouse players who have tested positive for Covid-19, club president Didier Lacroix said Friday.
"He was injured, now he has Covid," Lacroix told a press conference, confirming a rumour circulating since Thursday.
Lacroix did not give details on the other players involved.
The announcement comes two weeks before France's opening game of the Six Nations tournament on February 6 against Italy.
Lacroix was speaking after European Champions Cup organisers cancelled his club's home game on Saturday against Cardiff, leaving the reigning European champions at risk of failing to reach the last 16.
European Professional Club Rugby handed the Welsh side a bonus point 28-0 victory.
Lacroix said his side had enough fit players to fulfil the fixture but competition rules say clubs must follow their domestic league's coronavirus regulations.
Dupont, the world player of the year in 2021, had resumed training at the beginning of the week. He was supposed to make his return on Saturday against Cardiff.
The scrum-half, is one of 10 Toulouse players in the French Six Nations squad which is due to assemble on Sunday ahead of a training camp.
"We knew it was a possible hazard, but unfortunately we are used to it," Serge Simon, vice-president of the French Rugby Federation told AFP, adding that players who tested positive could "not join the gathering until later", once their tests are negative.
"What gives us some comfort is that the first match is not right away, so it will be fine," Simon said.
Short of match fitness, Dupont could stay with Toulouse for the Top 14 game against Racing 92 on January 29.
"If the French team lets us have him, it would be with great pleasure," said Toulouse backs coach Clement Poitrenaud although he said he was "not worried" about the player's "capacity" to "quickly get back into the rhythm".
"Antoine is a boy who loves rugby and can't stand being in the infirmary or at home. It is also a great frustration for him" that he has not played since December 11, said Poitrenaud.
"He's not a superman either, he can't keep going at such a high level of performance without having little slumps or injuries from time to time."
"It's also perhaps a blessing in disguise given the last three seasons, which have been very intense for him. Plus the media hype around him, which can suck up a lot of energy. He took advantage of this time to recover, to rest, to regenerate."
P.Queiroz--PC