Wales' Six Nations Championship clash against France in Paris tomorrow week looks likely to go ahead as planned and the French yesterday named a squad for the match.
French Rugby Federation president Bernard Lapasset spoke with the country's agriculture minister Jean Glavany by telephone yesterday and received an assurance about the fixture taking place.
Scotland's Murrayfield appointment with Italy tomorrow week is another confirmed starter.
The foot-and-mouth crisis has so far claimed three championship matches - Wales versus Ireland, Scotland against Ireland and Ireland versus England. The presence of uncapped full back Pepito Elhorga in the 22man France squad was the main talking point.
Elhorga, who was forced to withdraw from the squad that beat Italy in Rome last weekend because of a calf injury, replaces David Bory in the only change to the squad.
Veteran Jean-Luc Sadourny, who replaced Elhorga against the Italians, keeps his place. Centre Yannick Jauzion, who was set to make his debut against Italy, was not considered because of a thigh injury, while Xavier Garbajosa and Emile Ntamack, did not recover from injuries in time.
FRANCE (Squad): Backs: P Elhorga (Agen), J- L Sadourny (Colomiers), S Bonetti (Biarritz), T Lombard (Stade Francais), F Galthie (Colomiers), P Carbonneau (Stade Francais), C Lamaison (Stade Francais), G Merceron (Montferrand), C Dominici (Stade Francais), P Bernat-Salles (Biarritz). Forwards: S Marconnet (Stade Francais), C Califano (Toulouse), P De Villiers (Stade Francais), R Ibanez (Castres), F Landreau (Stade Francais), D Auradou (Stade Francais), A Benazzi (Agen), F Pelous (Toulouse), O Magne (Montferrand), C Juillet (Stade Francais), C Moni (Stade Francais), S Betsen (Biarritz).
