France’s six Nations defense has suffered a setback with scrum-half Maxime Lucu facing up to six weeks on teh sidelines with a knee injury.
The 32-year-old, a key player for Les Bleus since his debut in 2021 with 33 caps, sustained the injury during a Bordeaux-Begles training session Planet Rugby.This puts his participation in the opening rounds of the 2026 Six Nations Championship in doubt.
Lucu Injury Creates Prospect for Dupont and Others
Bordeaux head coach Yannick Bru confirmed the potential length of Lucu’s absence, stating that a successful recovery could see him back in four weeks, but a more intricate recovery could extend that to six weeks Planet Rugby.
This timeline means Lucu is likely to miss France’s opening match against Ireland on February 5th and the subsequent fixture against Wales on February 15th.
The injury presents a significant opportunity for Antoine Dupont, the star captain, to return to the starting lineup. Dupont has been recovering from an ACL rupture sustained in 2025 and has recently returned to play with Toulouse Planet Rugby.
Other contenders to fill the scrum-half role include Nolann le Garrec of La Rochelle,who has previously featured for France,and Baptiste Serin of Toulon,who was part of the six Nations training group last year Planet Rugby.
2026 Six Nations Fixtures
Here are the key dates for France’s opening matches in the 2026 Six Nations:
- February 5th: France vs. Ireland
- February 15th: Wales vs. France
The injury to Maxime Lucu is a blow to France’s preparations, but it also opens the door for other talented players to step up and prove their worth in the highly anticipated 2026 Six Nations Championship.