Following the furore surrounding Novak Djokovic's vaccination status prior to the Australian Open, countries are seeking to clarify their stance on vaccination for athletes and tourists entering their countries.
Sources told the AFP that the French government have now decided that all athletes and sports professionals who wish to compete in France must be vaccinated.
Parliament have just given the green-light to a vaccine pass, which replaces the current health pass. It means that anyone wishing to enter sports and leisure venues in the country must be vaccinated.
This includes players and crowds, meaning that sports fixtures over the coming months will be impacted with no chance of certain top players being able to enter the country.
One of England's top midfielders, Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade, spoke about his desire not to be vaccinated last year in an interview with the Telegraph.
If Slade's stance remains the same, it would immediately mean that one of England's top players would not be able to travel for the match on Super Saturday, March 19th, which could potentially decide the Six Nations title.
“I have had vaccines in the past and have fallen pretty unwell with them afterwards,” said the England centre. “I just think there hasn’t been anywhere near enough testing to deem it safe.”
Slade has diabetes, and Diabetes UK “strongly encourages” anyone with the condition to get vaccinated.
French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu had previously stated that big events could receive 'exemptions' but the latest announcement makes this extremely unlikely.
Currently the majority of the Premiership's 13 clubs have hit the league's 85% target for vaccination, including Slade's Chiefs side but it is not clear how many more players in England's camp are included in this number.
