France send Pelissier packing

Correspondent

France have sent hooker Eloi Pelissier home after breaking team curfew over the weekend.

The 26-year-old flew back home on Sunday from Perth after the squad travelled across Australia to prepare for their final Group game against England next Sunday at the Perth Rectangular Stadium.

He came off the bench to play for France against Australia on Friday night but according to French news outlet L’independent, Pelissier did not respect the curfew time set by headcoach Aurelien Cologni when they arrived in Western Australia.

Pelissier has been an important player for France in his entire international career, earning 18 caps for his country since 2011.

France are not expected to bring anyone else into the 24-man squad though, they have got a couple of players who can play at hooker while Catalans Dragons starlet Lucas Albert is expected to fill the void.

Pelissier made his Super League debut for Catalans in 2011 and went onto play over 150 games for the Perpignan club before moving to Leigh Centurions ahead of the 2017 season.

However, his future is up in the air at the minute because his contact became void when the Centurions were relegated from Super League after losing to the Dragons in the Million Pound Game.

France will be out of the World Cup if they don’t beat England next weekend, with Australia on four points and England and Lebanon both on two points in Group A.