France risk All Blacks’ fury as big names miss New Zealand tour with 17 uncapped players included
Fabien Galthie (left) and an inset of Gael Fickou (right)
Gaël Fickou will lead a much-changed French squad into their summer tour to New Zealand, with the first 37 players named.
France’s squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand has already attracted criticism, with Fabien Galthie openly admitting he will use this as a developmental tour.
A maximum of five players from both Toulouse and Bordeaux will join up with the touring party after the Top 14 final, taking the full squad up to 42 ahead of the final two Tests.
Fabien Galthie names New Zealand tour squad
Racing 92 centre Fickou is seen as a key leader within Galthie’s squad, and he will don the armband this summer in a rotated France squad, which will likely be without key men like Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud.
The ‘bit of bulls***’ that Bordeaux have dismissed ahead of Top 14 final rematch with Toulouse
There are also a whopping 17 uncapped players within the initial 37-man squad, with Giorgi Beria, Tyler Duguid, Baptiste Erdocio, Alexandre Fischer, Matthias Halagahu, Paul Mallez, Guillaume Marchand, Regis Montagne, Jacobus van Tonder, Theo William, Leo Berdeu, Lein Darricarrere, Thibault Daubagna, Alivereti Duguivalu, Theo Millet, Joris Segonds, Tom Spring, Cheikh Tiberghien all included.
Alongside skipper Fickou, experienced duo Rabah Slimani and Romain Taofifenua are the only other players with 50+ caps to their name.
All Blacks: Scott Robertson names five uncapped players in squad for series against France
Racing 92 forward Cameron Woki is also named after having his red card against England XV stricken off.
The three-Test series against the All Blacks begins in Dunedin on Saturday, 5th July, before heading to Wellington for the second Test a week later. The final Test will take place in Hamilton on Saturday, July 19th
France initial 37-man squad in full
Forwards: Esteban Abadie, Hugo Auradou, Demba Bamba, Gaëtan Barlot, Giorgi Beria, Pierre Bourgarit, Georges-Henri Colombe, Tyler Duguid, Baptiste Erdocio, Alexandre Fischer, Mickaël Guillard, Matthias Halagahu, Paul Mallez, Guillaume Marchand, Régis Montagne, Rabah Slimani, Romain Taofifenua, Killian Tixeront, Jacobus Van Tonder, Théo William, Cameron Woki
Backs: Théo Attissogbe, Léo Barré, Léo Berdeu, Léon Darricarrère, Thibault Daubagna, Alivereti Duguivalu, Gaël Fickou (c), Émilien Gailleton, Antoine Hastoy, Baptiste Jauneau, Nolann Le Garrec, Théo Millet, Joris Segonds, Tom Spring, Sheikh Tiberghien, Gabin Villières
