The French national rugby team has announced a 42-man squad as they prepare for their upcoming match against South Africa on Friday evening at the Stade de France. This follows their recent victory over Fiji, marking the start of the autumn Nations Championship.
Romain Ntamack has been ruled out for the remainder of the competition due to a hamstring injury sustained in training. His absence is a blow for France, as he was expected to play an important role in the team’s strategy against the two-time world champions.
The squad sees the return of several key players. Julien Marchand, who had missed the start of the gathering due to his own injury, has made a successful comeback with Toulouse and has been included in the lineup. His physical presence will be important against a strong South African side.
Other notable inclusions are Louis Carbonel and Teddy Thomas, both of whom have impressed at their respective clubs. Carbonel’s last appearance for France was in July 2021, and he now steps in due to a shortage of fit fly-halves, while Thomas, in good form with Toulouse, returns at the age of 33.
Experienced centre Gaël Fickou is back in the squad, bringing his 98 caps of experience, alongside Gaël Dréan, who has returned after a lengthy absence due to health issues. The squad also includes promising players such as Loïc Credoz and Grégoire Arfeuil as they aim to prepare thoroughly for the challenging fixture against South Africa.
Bruno Lancelle, born in 1986 in La Seyne-sur-Mer (Var), is a physiotherapist and a former rugby union fly-half who played for Toulon, Lyon, Provence Rugby, La Seyne-sur-Mer, US Bressane, Lille and Hyères. He is the editor-in-chief of Rugby Transfers and of its French edition, Rugby Transferts.
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