France prop Eddy Ben Arous has been ruled out of the Six Nations match against Wales on February 26 after sustaining a fractured rib cartilage.

Ben Arous, 25, suffered the injury in France's 10-9 victory over Ireland on Saturday, the side's second win after edging Italy 23-21 in their campaign opener.

France forwards coach Yannick Bru told AFP that Ben Arous, who plays for Racing 92 in the Top 14, would be out for between three and four weeks.

After the Wales game, France travel to Edinburgh to play Scotland on March 13, wrapping up the Six Nations at home to England six days later.

France coach Guy Noves will likely call up another loosehead prop to replace Ben Arous. Jefferson Poirot and Vincent Pelo are already in the squad, but Noves could look to blood some youth in Toulon's Florent Fresia or Clermont's Raphael Chaume, or choose to fall back on more experienced hands in the likes of Vincent Debaty, Xavier Chiocci or Thomas Domingo.

"We'll take our time to mull things over," said Bru, with the team to play Wales set to be announced on Wednesday.