La Rochelle suffer big setback ahead of Euro final

INJURY UPDATE: La Rochelle suffered a hammer blow Tuesday with news that key scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow will miss the European Champions Cup final against Leinster on May 28 with a hand injury.

"The hand is broken, it'll take six weeks to fix," the former All Black, capped 28 times, told AFP.

"It's a shame, it's bad timing but that's the life of a rugby player.

"If we get to the final of the Top 14 [on June 24], I might be available."

Kerr-Barlow, 31, was replaced in the 53rd minute of La Rochelle's 20-13 semi-final win over Racing 92.

The absence of the 2015 Rugby World Cup winner, who has been at La Rochelle since 2017, will offer up a window of opportunity for either Arthur Retiere, who came on the semi-final, or Thomas Berjon.

Another casualty from the semi-final held in the northern French city of Lens was Racing's Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell.

The Scot sustained a twisted knee and will be out for two weeks, with Racing still also in the running to make the Top 14 play-offs.