Rugby: French recall top trio

Raphael Ibanez, Abdelatif Benazzi and Christophe Dominici have all been named in the French squad for the opening Six Nations match against Scotland in Paris on February 4.

Hooker and former captain Ibanez, back rower Benazzi and winger Dominici made their returns in a 22-strong squad named by French coach Bernard Laporte.

All three players did not feature in Test matches late last year.

Fabien Pelous of Toulouse retains the captaincy.

Squad: Forwards: Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Francais), Pieter De Villiers (Stade Francais), Christian Califano (Toulouse), Fabrice Landreau (Stade Francais), Raphael Ibanez (Castres), Fabien Pelous (Tourlouse - capt), David Auradou (Stade Francais), Abdelatif Benazzi (Agen), Christophe Moni (Stade Francais), Christophe Juillet (Stade Francais), Olivier Magne (Montferrand), Serge Betsen (Biarritz)

Backs: Fabien Galthie (Colomiers), Philippe Carbonneau (Pau), Christophe Lamaison (Agen), Gerald Merceron (Montferrand), Franck Comba (Stade Francais), Richard Dourthe (Beziers), Christophe Dominici (Stade Francais), David Bory (Montferrand), Philippe Bernat-Salles (Biarritz), Xavier Garbajosa (Toulouse)