FRANCOIS TRINH-DUC and Freddie Michalak have been named in a 36-man France training squad for the Rugby World Cup, but there’s no place for Camille Lopez.
Trinh-Duc hasn’t played for France in over a year but recently returned to action for Montpellier after breaking his leg last October, while Toulon veteran Michalak has also been favoured over Clermont fly-half Lopez, who featured prominently during this year’s Six Nations campaign.
Other notable absentees ahead of the World Cup are Toulouse’s Maxime Medard, Racing Metro pair Teddy Thomas and Maxime Machenaud, along with Toulon trio Maxime Mermoz, Alexandre Menini and Romain Taofifenua.
France are set to begin their preparations on 6 July, but head coach Philippe Saint-Andre has until 31 August to finalise a list of 31 players to compete in the tournament.
France training squad:
Forwards – Eddy Ben Arous (Racing), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Xavier Chiocci (Toulon), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Français), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Français), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Papé (Stade Français), Sébastien Vahaamahina (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Bernard Le Roux (Racing), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedroago (Montpellier), Loann Goujon (La Rochelle).
Backs – Rory Kockott (Castres), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Sébastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon), Rémi Tales (Castres), Frédéric Michalak (Toulon), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Rémi Lamerat (Castres), Gaël Fickou (Toulouse), Alexandre Dumoulin (Racing), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont), Sofiane Guitoune (UBB), Brice Dulin (Racing), Scott Spedding (Bayonne).
