The rough and tumble of French rugby has been curtailed by an unexpected source, an epidemic of mumps.
The virus, normally associated with children, has forced the French rugby union (LNR) to postpone next weekend's Basque derby between Biarritz and Bayonne after another Top 14 game was called off for the same reason.
The Bordeaux v Lyon game was postponed last week because Lyon players were suffering from the mumps virus.
The LNR says it made the decision to postpone the Biarritz, Bayonne clash to avoid possible contamination by the Biarritz players as they faced Lyon two weekends ago.
