France lock Pascal Pape has been ruled out of next weekend's Six Nations game against Italy with a knee injury.

The Stade Francais player injured his knee in his club's 9-6 league defeat at Biarritz on Saturday, leading Les Bleus manager Jo Maso to announce the player will not be fit.

He will be replaced in the squad by Albi's Arnaud Mela, who has two caps to his name.

The news is another blow to the team which lost a week ago at home to England after number eight Imanol Harinordoquy withdrew on Friday.

France take on Italy at the Stade de France on Sunday 9 March.

Amended France squad

Backs: Dimitri Yachvili, Julien Tomas, François Trinh-Duc, Yannick Jauzion, Yann David, Damien Traille, Vincent Clerc, Julien Malzieu, Aurelien Rougerie, Anthony Floch.

Forwards: Fabien Barcella, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Nicolas Mas, Guillem Guirado, Dimitri Szarzewski, Arnaud Mela, Jerome Thion, Lionel Nallet, Ibrahim Diarra, Julien Bonnaire, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles.

Reuters