Shock omissions in France's 2026 Six Nations squad
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The French national team coaching staff has announced its 42-man squad to prepare for the 2026 Six Nations Championship.
Fabien Galthié’s men will face Ireland in their opening match of the competition on February 5 at the Stade de France.
France coach Galthie has left out experienced trio Gael Fickou, Damian Penaud and vice-captain Gregory Alldritt from his 42-man squad revealed on Wednesday for the start of the Six Nations.
Alldritt mostly captained France during star scrum-half Antoine Dupont’s eight-month injury absence, while centre Fickou is the most-capped active player in the country and winger Penaud is Les Bleus’ all-time record try-scorer.
All three will miss France’s Six Nations opener at home to Ireland next month but could be called up later on in the tournament.
Flyhalf Romain Ntamack is also missing through injury, but Dupont will make his first France appearance since tearing his cruciate knee ligament in March during France’s victory away to Ireland in last year’s Six Nations tournament, which they won.
Alldritt, 28, was dropped for France’s home defeat to South Africa during the Nations Series but came back to captain the side against Fiji and Australia.
Fickou, 31, who has 98 caps for France, stood in as skipper against the Springboks but was then dropped against Fiji, before being recalled to face the Wallabies.
Penaud, 29, surpassed France great Serge Blanco as his country’s top try-scorer in November, taking his tally to 40 in 59 matches.
He forms part of a dynamic wing partnership at Champions Cup holders Bordeaux-Begles alongside Louis Bielle-Biarrey, but was previously dropped by Galthie after losing to England in the Six Nations last year.
Galthie has instead called up several younger players such as Stade Francais centre Noah Nene, 21, Toulon winger Gael Drean, and Bordeaux-Begles back-row forward Temo Matiu, 24.
Australia under-20s lock Tom Staniforth, 31, earned his first call-up for France, having qualified on residency grounds after more than five years playing for Castres.
Forwards: Dorian Aldegheri, Uini Antonio, Hugo Auradou, Cyril Baille, Paul Boudehent, François Cros, Alexandre Fischer, Thibaud Flament, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mickaël Guillard, Oscar Jegou, Anthony Jelonch, Maxime Lamothe, Julien Marchand, Temo Matui, Peato Mauvaka, Emmanuel Meafou, Régis Montagne, Rodrigue Neti, Lenni Nouchi, Charles Ollivon, Dany Priso, Thomas Staniforth,Tevita Tatafu, Cameron Woki
Backs: Grégoire Arfeuil, Théo Attissogbe, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Romain Buros, Thibault Daubagna, Nicolas Depoortere, Gaël Dréan, Antoine Dupont, Kalvin Gourgues, Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, Matthieu Jalibert, Yoram Moefana, Noah Nene, Thomas Ramos, Baptiste Serin, Ugo Seunes
