XV of France: list of 34, new faces, the Montpellier residents… everything you need to know before Fabien Galthié's announcement

Maxime Lucu et Damian Penaud, en pleine bourre en ce début 2024. MAXPPP – Adam Davy

Wednesday January 17, the coach of the French XV will announce his first post-2023 World Cup list. A highly anticipated list, between the new faces, the transition from 42 to 34 players or even the presence or not of Montpellier residents.

After the failure and a defeat in the quarter-final of its World Cup against South Africa (29-28), the XV of France starts again on a new cycle with the new objective: 2027 and its Australian World Cup.

"We want to bring this group to 2027 (to the next World Cup in Australia). 80 or 90% of the squad will go, the coach recently said in an interview with the newspaper L'Equipe.

Before this deadline, there is a 6 Nations Tournament to compete, and a disappointment to erase. 

Also read: RUGBY. 6 Nations Tournament 2024: channels, dates and times… find the complete schedule for the next edition

A Tournament without Dupont

This is the big news at the start of 2024, Antoine Dupont, captain of the Blues and best player in the world will not be part of this 6 Nations Tournament. With the objective of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Gersois will acclimatize with rugby 7s and will participate in the tournaments in Vancouver (February 23-25) and Los Angeles (March 2-3).

Without its talisman player, voted best player of the Tournament three times in the last four editions, the French XV still has what it takes to adapt. Between a Maxime Lucu at the top of his art (Bordeaux-Bègles), a Nolann Le Garrec who is taking on more and more responsibilities with Racing 92 or even a Baptiste Couilloud a sure bet at LOU, the French tank is always interesting in this position .

A list of 34 instead of 42

Used to having a group of 42 players during the 2020-2023 period, Fabien Galthié will this time have to deal with 34 players at the start of the week. On Wednesday evening, this group will be reduced to 28 players and the other six will therefore be released to their clubs, to, why not, play in the championship on the weekend. 

Also read: XV of France. the FFR and the LNR formalize the agreement with 34 players for the Six Nations Tournament

During the preparatory training week, as well as before the matches against Italy (February 25) and Wales (March 10) which will take place on a Sunday , these six players will be replaced for Thursday by six others, selected from the ten Top 14 clubs with the fewest players in the group of 34. Each of them must come from a different club and the FFR specifies that it will take care not to always solicit the same players on these three Thursdays.

A new staff

Fabien Galthié remains the coach, although he lost two key members of his staff at the end of the World Cup. Laurent Labit (attack) and Karim Ghezal (conquest) were respectively replaced by the two Catalans Patrick Arlettaz and Laurent Sempéré. Thibaut Giroud, performance director from 2019 to 2023, moved to Bordeaux-Bègles and Nicolas Jeanjean took over. Shaun Edwards (defense) and William Servat (forwards) retain their positions.

Highly anticipated news

Desired by the staff of the French passport. The Australian of origin, now French, should see his name on the list and be a serious client for number 5. In the same style, Posolo Tuilagi, U20 world champion last July and holder indisputable at Usap since the start of the season, knocks on the door of the Blues, in a position where, like the right pillar, the reservoir is not necessarily abundant.

At the center Emilien Gailleton could appear in the 34, in the same way as his ex teammate in the U20s: Nicolas Depoortère, very strong at the start of the season, alongside three fiery quarters at the & #39;UBB: Lucu, Jalibert, Bielle-Biarrey, Moefane or even Penaud.

Montpellier residents among the Blues ?

The MHR is having one of its worst starts to the season, with a place at the bottom after 12 days. "When we are last, we have fewer players called up with the XV of France", explained Bernard Laporte, Wednesday January 9, at the premises of Midi Libre. 

Who can today claim the blue jersey on the MHR side ? Paul Willemse ? The solid second line has been gaining momentum in recent weeks. Against the Lions, Saturday January 13, his impact coming off the bench was good. Holder for a large part of the last term, Willemse unfortunately missed the World Cup due to an injury. Yacouba Camara, Alexandre Bécognée and Florian Verhaeghe seem to be too late to join the Blues list. 

Also read: RUGBY. As often, Paul becomes Willemse again a few weeks before the start of the Six Nations Tournament

Behind, Louis Carbonel, in sight in the last meetings, could return to the hierarchy of number 10, taking advantage of injuries (Ntamack, Berdeu) and the less good performances of his competitors (Hastoy).&amp ;nbsp;

Arthur Vincent, less visible at the start of the season, after a timid World Cup where he had little opportunity to express himself, would almost be a surprise on a list where centers/wingers are legion.