Injury-hit Toulouse keep coach in reserve

TOULOUSE, France (AFP) –

Injury-hit French giants Toulouse have named forwards coach William Servat, pictured in march 2012, as a standby squad member as they prepare for their European Cup campaign, manager Guy Noves said Monday.

Injury-hit French giants Toulouse have named forwards coach William Servat as a standby squad member as they prepare for their European Cup campaign, manager Guy Noves said Monday.

“When we saw Christopher (Tolofua) in difficulty with his shoulder and Gary Botha injured we were left with just one high quality hooker,” said Noves, who noted that “William Servat, who trains regularly, could perhaps be the solution.”

Former international Servat, nicknamed Monsieur Indestructible, hung up his boots earlier this year after spending all of an 18-year career at the club but could now make a temporary comeback after the club asked for a players licence for him.

“It will take three months to get William Servat to his best level — for now it’s just backup,” explained Noves.

South African Botha has ankle trouble, hence the move to bring three-time European champion Servat back into the picture.

Meanwhile, fly-half Lionel Beauxis has been ruled out for between three and four weeks after suffering a foot injury during his club’s 35-6 win against Bayonne in the Top 14 at the weekend.

Noves confirmed the extent of the injury on Monday after the 26-year-old underwent an MRI scan.

The first match Beauxis will miss is the Top 14 clash at home to Toulon on Saturday.