France full-back Melvyn Jaminet was on Monday facing an end to his international career after a video surfaced of him making a racist remark.
Jaminet, 25, who plays for RC Toulon in southern France, featured as a late substitute on Saturday in France's 28-13 victory over Argentina at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas.
A few hours after the game in Mendoza, a video was published in which Jaminet can be heard saying: "The first Arab I meet on the street, I'm going to head butt him."
The video was picked up by La France insoumise politician Sébastien Delogu and widely shared on social media.
In a statement posted on X, the French rugby federation (FFR) condemned the comments as unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values of the sport.
It said Jaminet would be sidelined with immediate effect and would leave the French squad's tour of South America.
Jaminet began his professional career at the French Pro 2 club Perpignan in 2019. By the time he left for thye top flight outfit Toulouse in 2022, he had already broken into the France team.
He transferred to Toulon for the start of the 2023 campaign during which he was part of the France World Cup squad which lost in the quarter-finals to South Africa.
Federation chiefs said they would launch an investigation into the incident.
"Discriminatory behaviour of any kind has no place in French rugby," the FFR tatement added.
Jaminet, who has played 20 times for his country, issued an apology on social media shortly after his suspension was announced.
"I understand that this has hurt and offended many people, and I want to make it clear that these remarks do not reflect my values or those of the French rugby team.
"Racism in any form is unacceptable and goes against everything I believe in," he wrote on Instagram.
Toulon also published a statement on social media to condemn the comments.
