France name provisional squad for Rugby World Cup

Fabien Galthié has named a 42-player squad as the French side start preparations for the Rugby World Cup.

Wed, 21 Jun, 2023 - 12:19

Fiona Halligan

France have named a 42-player provisional squad as they set up their preparations for the Rugby World Cup being held" in France in September. Fabien Galthiè's side are heading to Monaco on July 2 for a training camp.

📣🇫🇷 Voici le groupe des 42 joueurs, sélectionnés pour 𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞́𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚̀ 𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐞 𝐝𝐮 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞, qui se déroulera à partir du 2 juillet à Monaco ! 👊#XVdeFrance #UnisPourUnRêve pic.twitter.com/QS9yFTu7V8
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) June 21, 2023

Baptiste Serin and Brice Dulin make a return to the French squad having not been seen with Les Bleus in over two years. They will be hoping to make the final cut for the World Cup squad which will be whittled down to 33 men on August 21st.

La Rochelle's flanker Paul Boudehent, prop Thomas Laclayat from Oyonnax, Section Paloise outside centre Emilien Gailleton and 20-year-old Bordeaux Bègles winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey are four uncapped players included in the French squad.

Fresh from their Champions Cup win La Rochelle have eight players in the side and newly crowned Top 14 Champions Toulouse with ten players including team captain Antoine Dupont.

France play Scotland on August 5 and 12, Fiji on August 19 and Australia on August 26 in warm-up games before the Rugby World kicks off. France kick off the competition against New Zealand on September 8.

France Provisional squad for the Rubgy World Cup

Forwards

Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse)

Gregory Alldritt (La Rochelle)

Uini Atonio (La Rochelle)

Cyril Baille (Toulouse)

Demba Bamba (Lou Rugby)

Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle)

Pierre Bourgarit (La Rochelle)

Bastien Chaulureau (Montpellier)

Dylan Cretin (Lou Rugby)

François Cros (Toulouse)