Paris (AFP) - France flanker Anthony Jelonch will miss the upcoming Six Nations with a right knee injury, coach Fabien Galthie confirmed on Monday.

Toulouse’s Jelonch, 27, was ruled out of the tournament with a ruptured knee ligament suffered during Sunday’s 31-19 Champions Cup win over Bath.

He has been replaced in the squad by club team-mate and uncapped 26-year-old Alexandre Roumat, the son of former Les Bleus forward Olivier.

“We wish him the best,” Galthie told reporters about Jelonch.

“We’re really disappointed for him. We will miss him.”

Jelonch won a race against time to be fit to feature at last year’s Rugby World Cup after suffering a similar injury to his other knee.

He captained France in the absence of scrum-half Antoine Dupont during the World Cup, having also led his country during a tour of Australia in July 2021.

The former Castres forward was set to feature for France in their Six Nations opener against tournament champions Ireland on February 2 in Marseille.

Later on Monday, Jelonch’s Toulouse team-mate Emmanuel Meafou was ruled out of the game with Ireland, having been expected to make his Test debut against Andy Farrell’s side.

New Zealand-born lock Meafou, 25, also suffered an injury during last weekend’s victory over Bath.

“About Emmanuel Meafou, the news from the Toulouse doctor for now is it’s a grade two knee sprain,” Galthie said.

“It’s for him to be out, and more towards for a long time. I haven’t got the period, but it’s immediate and more towards a long time.”

Meafou, who qualifies for France on residency grounds, trained with Les Bleus last year having impressed for his club since joining them in 2018.

The experienced Paul Willemse was called up to replace Meafou in the squad, with Cameron Woki, Romain Taofifenua, Paul Gabrillagues and Matthias Halagahu as Galthie’s other second-row options in the squad.

South Africa-born Willemse, 31, missed out on the World Cup with an injury after being a cornerstone of Galthie’s team since he took over as coach in December 2019, having made his Test debut 10 months earlier.

France name their team to play Ireland on January 31 and they will also be without poster boy Dupont as the scrum-half trains with France’s seven-a-side squad before this summer’s Paris Olympics.