Galthie has backing of French chiefs despite leaving bubble

FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie retains the support of his federation after it emerged he left the squad’s bubble on the opening weekend of the Guinness Six Nations to watch his son play rugby.

Les Bleus’ round three game against Scotland on Sunday was postponed because of an outbreak of coronavirus, with Galthie providing the first positive test after a 15-13 victory over Ireland in Dublin on February 14. Eleven players have contracted Covid-19, prompting French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu to demand answers, who has threatened to withdraw France from the Six Nations amid reports that players went out to eat waffles while in Rome to face Italy in round one.

But French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte has now revealed that Galthie (inset) attended the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris to see his son Mathis play.

“For me, he has the right to leave from the moment he is masked. He was outside,” Laporte said. “Why wouldn’t I support him? I am not a prosecutor. And it’s not because I really like Fabien. He knows well that I don’t give gifts to people.”

NATHANIEL Crosby will captain the United States for a second successive Walker Cup match against Great Britain and Ireland.

The biennial amateur team competition is scheduled to take place on May 8 and 9 at Seminole Golf Club, in Juno Beach, Florida. Crosby – the youngest son of singer and actor Bing Crosby – will lead a 10-player team comprised of Ricky Castillo, John Pak, Davis Thompson, Pierceson Coody, Austin Eckroat, Stewart Hagestad, Cole

Hammer, William Mouw and 2020 US Amateur Championship winner Tyler Strafaci.

The 59-year-old, who skippered the USA to a 15½-10½ victory at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake in 2019, said in a United States Golf Association statement: “It is once again a great privilege to serve as the USA captain and to work with a group who represent the best of amateur golf.

“The 10 team members have a notable list of accomplishments on the collegiate, national and international levels.”

The two-day match consists of 18 singles matches and eight foursomes matches.