The Montpellier fly-half François Trinh-Duc has been named in a 36-man France training squad for the World Cup while the Clermont Auvergne No10 Camille Lopez, Toulon’s centre Maxime Mermoz and the Racing Métro wing Teddy Thomas are among the most high-profile omissions.
Trinh-Duc returned to competition with his club only in March after breaking his leg last autumn. He has 49 caps, but has not played for France for more than a year after enduring a difficult relationship with the national coach Philippe Saint-André.
France will begin their preparations for the World Cup on 6 July at the national training centre in Marcoussis. Saint-André then has until 31 August to trim his list down to 31 names.
Lopez, Thomas and Mermoz were involved in the Six Nations campaign this season, but they have failed to make Saint-André’s initial World Cup selection.
The Racing scrum-half Maxime Machenaud is another notable absentee, with Sébastien Tillous-Borde, Morgan Parra and Rory Kockott battling it out for the No9 shirt, while Trinh-Duc, Frédéric Michalak and Rémi Talès are Saint-André’s current fly-half options.
The lock Pascal Papé, meanwhile, is recalled after serving a 10-week ban imposed in February after he was cited for kneeing the Ireland No8 Jamie Heaslip in the back during a Six Nations Test.
France will play World Cup warm-up games against England at Twickenham and in Paris during August, before concluding their preparations against Scotland on 5 September. Les Bleus’ opening World Cup fixture is against Italy at Twickenham on 19 September.
France World Cup training squad
Backs S Spedding, B Dulin, S Guitoune, N Nakaitaci, Y Huget, A Dumoulin, G Fickou, R Lamerat, W Fofana, M Bastareaud, F Trinh-Duc, F Michalak, R Talès, S Tillous-Borde, M Parra, R Kockott.
Forwards E Ben Arous, V Debaty, U Atonio, X Chiocci, N Mas, R Slimani, G Guirado, B Kayser, D Szarzewski, A Flanquart, Y Maestri, P Papé, S Vahaamahina, T Dusautoir (capt), D Chouly, B Le Roux, Y Nyanga, L Picamoles, F Ouedraogo, L Goujon.
