16 May 2013

France picks three foreign players

6:23 am on 16 May 2013

France have named three foreign players, South African forwards Bernard Le Roux and Daniel Kotze plus Fijian wing Noa Nakaitaci, in their squad for their tour of New Zealand next month.

Montpellier first five eighths François Trinh-Duc is the most notable absentee.

Coach Philippe Saint-André has called up eight uncapped players for his 35-man squad with Toulouse flanker Thierry Dusatoir retaining the captaincy.

Saint-Andre says Trinh-Duc needs to rest after a long season.

France take on the All Blacks on June 8th, 15th and 22nd in Auckland, Hamilton and New Plymouth respectively.

Forwards: Eddy Ben Arous (Racing-Metro), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Metro), Luc Ducalcon (Clermont), Daniel Kotze (Clermont), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Francais), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Christophe Samson (Castres), Sebastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, captain), Bernard Le Roux (Racing-Metro), Antonie Claassen (Castres), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse).

Backs: Maxime Machenaud (Racing-Metro), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Frederic Michalak (Toulon), Camille Lopez (Bordeaux), Remi Tales (Castres), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont), Alexis Palisson (Toulon), Adrien Plante (Perpignan), Brice Dulin (Castres), Yoann Huget (Toulouse)