France left red-faced over eligibility gaffe involving former Western Force player
FRANCE have been forced to pull former Western Force winger David Smith out of their squad for Friday’s Six Nations clash with Wales after discovering he did not qualify to play for Les Bleus.
The embarrassment for the French Rugby Federation emerged just hours after Samoa-born Smith, who played Super Rugby for the Blues, Hurricanes and Force, was brought in to the squad as injury cover. After Marvin O’Connor and Teddy Thomas were ruled out of France’s plans by problems sustained on club duty over the weekend, coach Guy Noves summoned winger Djibril Camara and France-based Smith.
But the 29-year-old Castres flyer Smith told French officials he had previously played for New Zealand at the 2008 Edinburgh Sevens, scuppering the prospect of a debut in Cardiff.
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