Escande to make his mark

Teenager Eric Escande is set to be handed the No.9 shirt for Montpellier's Top 14 play-off against Castres on Friday.

Teenager to step up after Tomas and Pailllauge are ruled out

Teenager Eric Escande is set to be handed the No.9 shirt for Montpellier's Top 14 play-off against Castres on Friday. With Julien Tomas and Benoit Pailllauge both having been ruled out for the clash through injury, 19-year-old Escande is poised to start at Toulouse's Ernest Wallon Stadium. And with no other cover in his squad, head coach Fabien Galthie will use centre Thomas Combezou as an emergency scrum-half.