Why France are tweeting about waffles ahead of Six Nations match versus Scotland
Scotland take on France in Paris on Friday night in the final match of this season’s Six Nations.
The game should have been played last month but was postponed because of an outbreak of coronavirus on the French squad.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdUp to 12 players tested positive for Covid-19 along several members of the coaching staff, including head coach Fabien Galthie.
It emerged that a number of France players broke tournament rules when they left the team’s hotel to go out for waffles while they were in Rome for their opening Six Nations match against Italy.
Today is International Waffle Day and the FFR were clearly keen to mark the occasion.
“On this March 25, we wish you all an excellent International Waffle Day,” they tweeted.
It is doubtful Scotland will see the funny side.
The match with Gregor Townsend’s side was rescheduled for Friday night but because the new date fell outside the international window, the Scots had to negotiate the release of their English-based players who were due to play for their club sides this weekend.
A deal was struck which would allow Scotland to have five of their English-based players for the France match.
It meant several key players had to drop out of Gregor Townsend’s squad, including Sean Maitland of Saracens, Jamie Bhatti of Bath and James Lang of Harlequins.
Despite being forced into picking a different squad, Townsend said he would not be using it as motivation for the game in Paris.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdFrance’s behaviour around the Covid protocols prompted the French government to become involved.
Galthie, who was one of the first of the French personnel to test positive, was later forced to admit he had left the team’s secure bubble to watch his son play rugby.
Investigations were launched into the outbreak by the French Rugby Federation and the government. Sports minister Roxana Maracineanu had threatened to revoke France’s permission to travel overseas which would have effectively forced them out of the Six Nations.
The French government then withdrew its threat to refuse France permission to complete the tournament after an investigation concluded that the national side had not been negligent in their Covid-19 protocols.