France rugby star hospitalised following traffic accident

The incident took place on Thursday, with La Dépêche du Midi reporting that he was involved in a collision while riding a scooter.

According to L’Équipe, the former Stade Toulousain player lost control of his scooter in rainy conditions in Paris and is expected to remain under medical observation until Sunday.

Costes is said to have sustained serious injuries to his spleen and liver.

The injuries are expected to keep him out of action for several months, dealing a major blow to Racing 92 and the player himself, who only joined the Parisian club this summer.

Costes started at outside centre in Racing's opening two Top 14 fixtures but has not featured since their defeat to Lyon on 12 September.

He had already been sidelined by a muscle injury, which head coach Patrice Collazo described as short-term earlier this week.

The 23-year-old began his professional career with Toulouse, making his debut against Bayonne in October 2022. He scored his first senior try the following week in a 16-16 draw against Stade Français.

Last season, Costes helped Toulouse secure their fourth consecutive Top 14 title, making 14 league appearances and scoring three tries.

He has also tasted success in Europe, winning the Champions Cup in 2024. He featured off the bench in both the round of 16 and quarter-final stages of the competition.

At international level, Costes represented France at Under-20 level and was part of the side that won the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship.

He also scored against England in the semi-finals of that tournament.

The accident now threatens to rule him out for a significant part of the season, although the full extent of his recovery timeline remains unclear.

Everyone at RUCK wishes Paul a speedy and full recovery.