Picamoles joins France's June Test absentee list

Montpellier no.8 Louis Picamoles will miss France's tour to New Zealand in June as he needs an operation, confirmed the French national side.

France coach Jacques Brunel is already without Racing 92 scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud who ruptured his knee ligaments against Bordeaux, while his club teammate Virimi Vakatawa has also been ruled out and will undergo a groin operation in June.

Brunel has called up Clermont loose forward Judicael Cancoriet to replace Picamoles. The 32-year-old was dropped from Brunel's original Six Nations squad earlier this year, but had been recalled for the 32-26 defeat in Scotland before being ejected again as one of eight players disciplined over a controversial night out in Edinburgh.

France did not disclose what surgery the 32-year-old needs.