The management of the XV of France unveiled, on Wednesday, the first expanded list of 42 players to prepare for the World Cup at home.
The preparation for the World Cup is symbolically launched. Fabien Galthié and his staff unveiled, Wednesday, June 21, the first list of 42 players called for the first internships for the World Cup at home.
Unsurprisingly, all the executive players of the coach’s mandate are present, such as the Toulouse champions of France Romain Ntamack, Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, around captain Antoine Dupont. Defeated in the Top 14 final, the Rochelais Uini Atonio, Grégory Alldritt and Jonathan Danty are also in the game, as are Charles Ollivon (Toulon), Damian Penaud (Clermont), Gaël Fickou (Racing) and Maxime Lucu (UBB).
Around them, elements that have become major in the XV of France are very present: François Cros, Thibaud Flament, Romain Taofifenua, Ethan Dumortier, Matthieu Jalibert, Melvyn Jaminet, Yoram Moefana, or even Gabin Villière.
Boudehent, Laclayat, Bielle-Biarrey and Gailleton summoned with no selection on the clock
Among the returns, we will mention those of Baptiste Serin and Arthur Vincent (who have not played a match with the Blues since 2021), Brice Dulin, Cameron Woki, Demba Bamba, Pierre Bourgarit or even Jean-Baptiste Gros. On the other hand, the Toulousans Anthony Jelonch, injured for a long time, and Emmanuel Meafou were not summoned. In the expected surprises, the Rochelais Paul Boudehent, the player of Oyonnax Thomas Laclayat, that of the UBB Louis Bielle-Biarrey or Pau Emilien Gailleton, all with zero selection, are summoned for the first gatherings.
In total, there are 10 Toulousains, nine Rochelais, five Lyonnais, four Montpellierains and as many Toulonnais and Bordelais, two Racingmen, one Oyonnaxien, one Clermontois, one Parisian, one Palois in this list.
Nevertheless, the coach had warned in mid-May that this list would be likely to be amended during the summer, depending on “injuries, withdrawals, recalled players”.
The players have an appointment for an internship in Monaco, between July 2 and 14, before returning to Marcoussis, from July 24 to August 3. The final list of 33 names for the global competition will be known on August 21, before the last warm-up match against Australia on August 27 (which will be preceded by matches against Scotland on August 5 and 12 and Fiji on August 19). The Blues will open the World Cup on September 8 against New Zealand.
The group of 42
Pillars (7): Uini Atonio (La Rochelle, 33, 50 sel.), Cyril Baille (Toulouse, 29, 42 sel.), Reda Wardi (La Rochelle, 27, 7 sel.) Thomas Laclayat (Oyonnax, 25 years old, 0 sel.), Demba Bamba (Lyon, 25 years old, 25 sel.), Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse, 29 years old, 8 sel.), Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon, 24 years old, 21 sel.)
Hookers (3): Julien Marchand (Toulouse, 28, 28 caps), Pierre Bourgarit (La Rochelle, 25, 7 caps), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse, 26, 21 caps)
Second rows (6): Thibaud Flament (Toulouse, 26, 16 caps), Paul Willemse (Montpellier, 30, 28 caps), Romain Taofifenua (Lyon, 32, 43 caps), Cameron Woki (Racing 92 , 25, 19 caps), Bastien Chalureau (Montpellier, 31, 3 caps), Florian Verhaeghe (Montpellier, 26, 1 cap)
Third rows (7): Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle, 26, 39 caps), Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle, 23, 0 caps), François Cros (Toulouse, 29, 20 caps), Sékou Macalou ( Stade français, 28, 15 caps), Charles Ollivon (Toulon, 30, 33 caps), Dylan Cretin (Lyon, 26, 17 caps), Yoan Tanga (La Rochelle, 26, 2 caps)
Scrum half (4): Antoine Dupont (Toulouse, 26, 47 caps), Maxime Lucu (Bordeaux-Bègles, 30, 13 caps), Baptiste Couilloud (Lyon, 25, 11 caps), Baptiste Serin (Toulon, 28, 42 caps)
Fly-half (3): Antoine Hastoy (La Rochelle, 26, 2 caps), Romain Ntamack (Toulouse, 24, 36 caps), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Bègles, 24, 23 caps)
Wingers (4): Damian Penaud (Clermont, 26, 42 caps), Gabin Villière (Toulon, 27, 12 caps), Ethan Dumortier (Lyon, 22, 5 caps), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux -Bègles, 20 years old, 0 sel.)
Centers (5): Gaël Fickou (Racing 92, 29, 79 caps), Jonathan Danty (La Rochelle, 30, 20 caps), Emilien Gailleton (Pau, 19, 0 caps), Arthur Vincent (Montpellier , 23, 14 caps), Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Bègles, 22, 16 caps)
Backs (3): Thomas Ramos (Toulouse, 27, 25 caps), Melvyn Jaminet (Toulouse, 23, 14 caps), Brice Dulin (La Rochelle, 33, 36 caps)