France bring in 20-year-old rookie
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: France coach Jacques Brunel has summoned debutant Demba Bamba and recalled Louis Picamoles to his squad announced Wednesday for November Tests against South Africa, Argentina and Fiji.
Picamoles makes his big return after being axed for a night out in Edinburgh while in Scotland for a Six Nations clash in February.
The 20-year-old prop Bamba earned his call up after starring for French Pro D2 side Brive and in France’s Under-20 world championship winning side.
His inclusion means no call up for Top 14 leaders Clermont’s Rabah Slimani with less than a year before the 2019 World Cup.
Aside from Bamba, another first cap beckons for hooker Julien Marchand, the captain at just 23 years of age of Top 14 outfit Toulouse.
Captain Guilhem Guirado returns after missing out on the June tour of New Zealand.
Two players returning to the international scene after long-term injuries last season are fly-half Camille Lopez and scrum-half Antoine Dupont.
There was no place, however, for Fiji-born winger Alivereti Raka or South African prop Paul Willemse.
“In the France team, a player must have French nationality. That’s my commitment and I thank the staff who have taken that on board,” tweeted Bernard Laporte, president of the French rugby federation.
Both Raka and Willemse are waiting for their applications for French citizenship to be processed.
France face South Africa on November 10, Argentina a week later and Fiji on November 24.
France squad
Forwards: Jefferson Poirot, Danny Priso, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Camille Chat, Julien Marchand , Uini Atonio , Demba Bamba, Cedate Gomes Sa, Yoann Maestri,Sebastien Vahaamahina , Paul Gabrillagues, Wenceslas Lauret, Bernard le Roux , Louis Picamoles, Arthur Iturria, Mathieu Babillot, Kelian Galletier
Backs: Morgan Parra, Antoine Dupont, Baptiste Serin, Camille Lopez, Anthony Belleau , Geoffrey Doumayrou, Wesley Fofana, Mathieu Bastareaud, Gael Fickou, Remi Lamerat, Damian Penaud, Teddy Thomas, Maxime Médard, Benjamin Fall
Agence France-Presse
