France squad: Antoine Dupont back after a year absence as Fabien Galthie calls up eight uncapped players while Romain Ntamack misses out
France star Antoine Dupont and an insert of fly-half Romain Ntamack.
Fabien Galthie has recalled his star France players ahead of the Autumn Nations Series with Antoine Dupont headlining the returnees.
The scrum-half has not represented France since the 2023 Rugby World Cup as he skipped the Six Nations in order to prepare for the Paris Olympics with the sevens team.
He also missed the July internationals as Galthie opted to omit many of his “premium players” for the tour of South America.
Antoine Dupont returns, Romain Ntamack misses out
While Dupont makes his return to the squad, he does so without his Toulouse halfback partner Romain Ntamack who is sidelined with a calf injury.
This means that Dupont could be paired with Thomas Ramos, Leo Barre or Mathieu Jalibert for the Tests against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina with reports suggesting that Ramos is surprisingly Galthie’s favoured option.
Meanwhile, the France head coach has included eight uncapped players in his squad Pierre Bochaton, Marko Gazzotti, Maxime Lamothe, Romain Buros (all from Union Bordeaux-Bègles), Joshua Brennan, Paul Costes (both Toulouse), Tevita Tatafu (Bayonne) and Berdeu (Lyon).
Bordeaux centre Yoram Moefana has also been included in the squad despite facing a potential ban that could rule him out of contention.
Meanwhile, the biggest surprise omission is that of hooker Julien Marchand with Gaetan Barlot, Peato Mauvaka and Maxime Lamothe the preferred candidates to fill the number two jersey.
There is also a recall for Toulon back Gabin Villiere while Theo Attissogbe is included after a standout start to his Test career in July.
Attissogbe is joined by the likes of Mickaël Guillard, Lenni Nouchi and former Munster centre Antoine Frisch who impressed in South America and have retained their places in the squad.
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France’s Autumn Nations Series squad
Forwards: Grégory Aldritt, Uini Atonio, Gaëtan Barlot, Pierre Bochaton, Paul Boudehent, Joshua Brennan, Georges-Henri Colombe, François Cros, Thibaud Flament, Marko Gazzotti, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mickaël Guillard, Anthony Jelonch, Maxime Lamothe, Peato Mauvaka, Emmanuel Meafou, Lenni Nouchi, Charles Ollivon, Alexandre Roumat, Romain Taofifenua, Sébastien Taofifenua, Tevita Tatafu, Reda Wardi
Backs: Theo Attissogbe, Leo Barré, Leo Berdeu, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Romain Buros, Paul Costes, Jonathan Danty, Antoine Dupont, Gaël Fickou, Antoine Frisch, Émilien Gailleton, Mathieu Jalibert, Nolann Le Garrec, Mathis Lebel, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Damian Penaud, Thomas Ramos, Gabin Villière
READ MORE: Autumn Nations Series: All the 2024 fixtures including dates and kick-off times
