France lock Tuilagi out for up to five weeks

France lock Posolo Tuilagi has been ruled out for four to five weeks with a stress fracture in his leg, his club Perpignan told AFP on Monday.

Tuilagi, 21, was a late withdrawal from the Catalans' side for their season-opening French Top 14 loss to Bayonne on Saturday having originally been named in the starting line-up.

The five-time capped second-row missed seven months of action last season with injury, starting just six games.

The 145kg forward is the latest member of the Tuilagi family to play international rugby.

His father Henry played for Samoa, while his uncle Manu featured for England and was even due to line up opposite his nephew for Bayonne last weekend.

Perpignan hope that Tuilagi will return to face Stade Francais on the weekend of October 4-5, a month before France begin their November test series.

Fabien Galthie's Les Bleus face South Africa on November 8, Fiji seven days later and then Australia the following week.