Fly half Matthieu Jalibert is one of a number of France stars set to take on New Zealand in the Nations Championship despite club commitments weakening Fabien Galthie’s squad.
Jalibert and several Bordeaux Begles teammates are included for France’s summer tour after the European champions failed to make the Top 14 play-offs.
A tight turnaround between the Top 14 final and the clash with the All Blacks on 4 Juiy accounts for Antoine Dupont and the rest of the Toulouse contingent as they prepare to face Montpellier in the domestic decider at the Stade de France on Saturday.
Galthie is boosted, though, by the availability of key figures including Jalibert and Yoram Moefana in the backline, while Damian Penaud is recalled having been left out of the Six Nations squad.
Their club colleague Maxime Lucu, so influential as Bordeaux Begles claimed back-to-back Champions Cup crowns, is in line to deputise again for Dupont in meetings with the All Blacks, Japan and Australia.
There are seven uncapped inclusions within the squad, including lock Tom Staniforth and Bromley-born wing Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang – an Olympic gold medallist in sevens at Paris 2024.
France squad for Nations Championship
Forwards
Moses Alo-Emile, Hugo Auradou, Demba Bamba, Pierre Bochaton, Esteban Capilla, Sipili Falatea, Marko Gazzotti, Mickael Gullard, Oscar Jegou, Maxime Lamothe, Barnabe Massa, Temo Matiu, Regis Montagne, Boris Palu, Jefferson Poirot, Tom Staniforth, Tevita Tatafu, Killian Tixeront, Reda Wardi.
Backs
Theo Attissogbe, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Nicolas Depoortere, Mathis Ferte, Theo Forner, Emilien Gailleton, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Antoine Hastoy, Matthieu Jalibert, Nolann Le Garrec, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Damian Penaud, Max Spring.
