Trinh-Duc gets French call-up
The Montpellier playmaker was not chosen by Philippe Saint-Andre for the World Cup last year, while injury kept him out of the reckoning for new coach Guy Noves for the first two games of this year's Six Nations, which brought wins over Italy and Ireland.
But the 29-year-old is fully fit again and will come in as backup to Jules Plisson, who impressed in the 10-9 win over Ireland last Saturday.
Trinh-Duc was seldom in favour during Saint-Andre's four-year tenure, but Noves and his coaching team have made it clear that are eager to use his attacking style of play as they refashion the French gameplan.
Noves has named a 31-strong squad for the February 26 Wales game with loosehead prop Xavier Chiocci also earning a call-up.
Chocci, who has won four previous caps, comes in for Eddy Ben Arous who sustained bruised ribs in the match against the Irish.
Also back in the squad is flank Bernard Le Roux who was not considered for the first two Six Nations games as he was being married in South Africa. He replaces La Rochelle's Kevin Gourdon.
Centres Wesley Fofana and Alexandre Dumoulin along with full-back Scott Spedding were all ruled out through injury.
France squad:
Forwards: Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux-Bègles), Xavier Chiocci (Toulon), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Vincent Pelo (La Rochelle), Rabah Slimani (Stade Français), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon, captain), Camille Chat (Racing 92), Yoann Maestri (Toulon), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Français), Sébastien Vahaamahina (Clermont), Paul Jedrasiak (Clermont), Yacouba Camara (Toulouse), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92), Loann Goujon (La Rochelle), Antoine Burban (Stade Français), Bernard Le Roux (Racing 92).
Backs: Sébastien Bézy (Toulouse), Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92), Jules Plisson (Stade Français), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Jonathan Danty (Stade Français), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Gaël Fickou (Toulouse), Rémi Lamerat (Castres), Teddy Thomas (Racing 92), Virimi Vakatawa (FFR), Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Hugo Bonneval (Stade Français), Marvin O'Connor (Montpellier).
Agence France-Presse
