Galthié reveals his hand ahead of World
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Veteran fullback Brice Dulin said he was “very, very proud” to have been included in France coach Fabien Galthie’s 42-man Rugby World squad on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old won the last of his 36 caps in March 2021 but earned a call-up to the hosts’ squad due to an outstanding season for Champions Cup winners La Rochelle.
He is one of nine players from La Rochelle to feature.
Galthie will reduce the squad to 33 on August 21 for the sport’s quadrennial showpiece – which runs from September 8 to October 28 – but he has offered a glimmer of hope to others like Dulin who have been rarely used in the past two years.
Scrumhalf Baptiste Serin and centre Arthur Vincent, who has had two nightmare injury-plagued seasons, will hope to impress in training camp and get a chance to shine in some of the four warm-up matches.
Galthie has remained loyal to the squad that secured the 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam last year and finished runners-up last season.
However, the former France captain has selected four uncapped players: centre Emilien Gailleton, wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, loose forward forward Paul Boudehent and prop Thomas Laclayat
Laclayat is the surprise amongst the quartet as he played second-tier rugby last season with now-promoted Oyonnax.
Toulouse’s dynamic halfback partnership of France captain Antoine Dupont and flyhalf Romain Ntamack head up a 10-player group from the recently-crowned French champions.
For some of those not called up there remains some hope – lose forward Anthony Jelonch, who is recuperating after a cruciate ligament operation, prop Sipili Falatea or Australian lock Emmanuel Meafou, who is awaiting World Rugby’s decision on whether to grant him his request to be considered a naturalised Frenchman.
One player certainly not under consideration is prop Mohamed Haouas, whose conviction for marital abuse prompted Galthie to tell him he was persona non grata.
There is also a spot for South African-born lock Paul Willemse, who has recently been struggling with an injury.
See the squad below:
