France have named uncapped 20-year-old centre Noah Nene, who plays for second-tier Dax, in their 42-player Six Nations squad.
Nene was a fringe member of France’s under-20s last season but has impressed on loan from parent club Stade Francais, establishing himself as first choice in Dax’s midfield.
Elsewhere, fly-half Romain Ntamack returns to the France fold for the first time in more than a year. The 25-year-old suffered a serious knee injury just before the 2023 Rugby World Cup and missed the autumn internationals with a calf problem.
Captain Antoine Dupont, who missed last year’s Six Nations to prepare for France’s successful bid for sevens gold at Paris 2024, is named alongside Matthieu Jalibert, who started in place of Ntamack at the World Cup but chose not to be picked as a replacement in the autumn.
Forwards Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, against whom a charge of rape was dismissed last month in Argentina, are also included.
Coach Fabien Galthie explained his thinking behind the availability of Auradou and Jegou, who were accused of rape during France’s summer tour of Argentina. The women’s lawyer has appealed against the dismissal of the case.
“The case was dropped, which is clear and obvious. From the moment the case was dropped, we consider them innocent,” Galthie told radio station RMC before the announcement of his squad.
“After a coherent procedure, they can be selected.”
More than five years since his last international appearance, Leinster prop Rabah Slimani returns. The 35-year-old, who moved to Dublin from Clermont at the start of this season, won the most recent of his 57 caps in quarter-final defeat by Wales at Japan 2019.
Experienced pair Charles Ollivon and Gael Fickou are injured but there is space for Joshua Brennan, the son of former Leinster, Toulouse and Ireland forward Trevor Brennan.
France, who have finished second in the last two Six Nations after winning a Grand Slam in 2022, play Wales at home in their opening match on Friday, 31 January.
