Jauzion broke his toe playing for club side Toulouse

He had only been expected to miss the opening two games but his recovery has been slower than expected.

"The England game on 12 March comes too soon, and I won't be able to put myself forward for the Wales game on 18 March after six weeks out," he said.

This is a further blow to France whose captain Fabien Pelous could miss the game against Italy with a stomach bug.

Officials have revealed that the inspirational lock has been struck down by severe gastro-enteritis.

"He has been sick all night and will be confined to bed all day," said team doctor Thierry Hermerel. "We'll see how he feels in 24 hours."

Coach Bernard Laporte and team manager Jo Maso are set to announce their team to face Italy on Wednesday.

Three other players in the 30-man squad, locks Jerome Thion and Pascal Pape and replacement fly-half Benjamin Boyet, sat out training on Tuesday.

"Thion has injured a calf muscle, Pape sprained his right ankle and Boyet has a bad bruise on his left thigh and will have a scan," added Hermerel.

Saracens back Thomas Castaignede admitted he was "just happy to be here" after rejoining the French squad.

The 31-year-old impressed on his return to international rugby in November, two seasons after his last appearance for France.

"I have been given no guarantees that I will start or even be on the bench on Saturday and, if I'm selected, I don't know if it will be at fly-half, centre or full-back," he said.

"Personally, I see myself more as a full-back."