France call up Roumat and Colombe for Six Nations

France have added Toulouse forwards Alexandre Roumat and Georges-Henri Colombe to their Six Nations squad after injuries to two other forwards in the build-up to the tournament.

Prop Uini Atonio, 35, was forced to withdraw from La Rochelle's Top 14 matchday squad ahead of their trip to Clermont, suffering what was described as a chest issue.

Atonio had only recently returned from a six-month hamstring injury layoff. He has been replaced in the France squad by Colombe, who moved from La Rochelle to Toulouse over the summer.

Colombe, 27, scored a try for Toulouse in their 59-22 league win over Pau on Saturday. He has not played for France since the July tour of New Zealand and has just returned from a knee injury sustained in November, featuring last week in Toulouse’s Champions Cup victory over Sale.

La Rochelle forward Paul Boudehent, 26, also withdrew from selection after suffering a neck problem during his club’s recent match. Boudehent, who can play lock or back row, was substituted at half-time due to the injury.

The inclusion of Colombe and Roumat increases the number of Toulouse players in head coach Fabien Galthié’s initial 42-man Six Nations preparation squad to 14.

France are set to trim the group to a final 28 later this week, with the remaining players released back to their clubs ahead of weekend Top 14 fixtures.