France lock Posolo Tuilagi is in a race against time to be fit for the Test against the Springboks on 8 November after being sidelined with a stress fracture in his leg.

Perpignan confirmed that the 21-year-old enforcer faces four to five weeks out after breaking down ahead of their Top 14 opener against Bayonne on Saturday. Originally named in the starting XV, Tuilagi was forced to withdraw late and is now targeting a return against Stade Français in early October.

That timeline leaves him with just a month to prove his fitness before France kick off their November Test series against South Africa in Paris.

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Tuilagi, who tips the scales at 145kg, is one of the most powerful young forwards in world rugby but has already endured a stop-start career. Last season he managed only six starts after missing seven months through injury.

Capped five times since making his debut in 2023, the son of former Samoa No 8 Henry and nephew of England’s Manu has become a key part of Fabien Galthié’s pack rebuild.

Les Bleus host the world champions on 8 November, followed by Fiji and Australia on consecutive weekends.

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