France captain Thierry Dusautoir is a major doubt for next weekend's World Cup warm-up against England due to a knee injury, team management revealed Friday.

Dusautoir, 33, is suffering from severe bruising of the knee from training on Wednesday and is due to rest up until the beginning of next week.

France are unlikely to risk him against the World Cup hosts at Twickenham on August 15, but he should be available for selection a week later when the same two sides meet at the Stade de France.

The World Cup begins on September 18 with the final on October 31 at Twickenham.

Meanwhile, 25 members of the France squad underwent drug testing at their training base in Marcoussis on Friday.

It was the second such time the team was tested by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD).

Doping in French rugby has been receiving a lot of headlines recently due to allegations of systematic drug-use made by former players and a team doctor, Jacques Mombet, in a book published by investigative journalist Pierre Ballester.
Source: AFP