Bastien Chalureau: France lock says he is 'not a racist' after World Cup call-up

Bastien Chalureau won the archetypal of his six France caps successful November 2022

Lock Bastien Chalureau has denied accusations helium is simply a racist aft being called up arsenic wounded screen successful France's World Cup squad.

Speaking astatine a quality league connected Monday, Montpellier's Chalureau said: "I americium not a racist."

He has been added to the French squad by caput manager Fabien Galthie arsenic screen for the injured Paul Willemse.

"What I privation to accidental to you is that I confessed to my mistakes, that I paid my debts and I contradict each claims astir racist remarks," added Chalureau, 31.

Capped six times by his country, helium said the Les Bleus coaching unit were alert of the incident.

"We discussed the substance with the French squad staff," helium added. "They knew from the start. It is an aged lawsuit and known by a batch of people.

"I wanted to travel retired successful nationalist and code each my team-mates and my household arsenic it does not conscionable impact me, it affects my family.

"That is wherefore I wanted to look earlier you, to clarify the situation.

"I americium not a racist, I bring radical together. The quality of rugby is it brings unneurotic radical from each communities."

Chalureau was sentenced for assaulting 2 different players, Yannick Larguet and Nassim Arif, aft a nighttime retired successful 2020, with the tribunal successful Toulouse stating the onslaught was carried retired due to the fact that of the contention of the victims.

The fastener admitted the battle but denied it was racially motivated. He was released by Toulouse and subsequently joined existent nine Montpellier.

While having luncheon with the squad connected Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron was heard connected microphone telling caput manager Galthie: "We don't privation the contention getting retired of hand."

Chalureau's comments came aft World Rugby main enforcement Alan Gilpin besides spoke retired connected the substance earlier connected Monday.

"There's perfectly nary spot for favoritism successful rugby and surely [not] for racism," helium said.

"It's important to recognise that we person to respect the ineligible process."

Chalureau made his Test debut past November, but erstwhile France skipper Thierry Dusautoir, says helium has ne'er been successful enactment of the fastener playing for the nationalist team.

"I've ever had a occupation with him successful being successful the French nationalist team," Dusautoir, who led France to the 2011 World Cup last and is simply a person of 1 of the victims, told Canal Plus.

"I'm alert that I'm not nonsubjective successful this."

France big New Zealand successful the opening crippled of the 2023 World Cup connected Friday 8 September arsenic they look to triumph the tourney for the archetypal clip successful their history.