REUTERS - France and Toulouse fullback Maxime Medard has been diagnosed with H1N1 flu after the French team returned from a tour of New Zealand and Australia.

"Maxime Medard had a sudden rise in temperature on Wednesday after the return from Australia," French team media officer Lionel Rossigneux said in a statement. "Medical tests confirmed on Friday he had been contaminated by the H1N1 virus."

The 23-year-old Medard, who has 11 caps, is one of the most promising backs in French rugby and scored the late intercept try which helped France to defeat New Zealand 27-22 in the first test of their tour on June 13.