The Blues coach has delivered a first group of players to prepare for the Six Nations, which begins on February 5 against Ireland.
Fabien Galthié’s first list to prepare for the Six Nations Tournament (February 5-March 14) was expected, and it will certainly fuel discussions. For his seventh Tournament since he took over the reins of the Blues in 2020, the French coach delivered a group which has no shortage of surprises. The first of these concerns the questioning of several frameworks. End of protected statuses for “premium players”, but this had already been the case for some recently.
As leaked to the press on Tuesday, three notable absentees, three executives from the Galthié era, were excluded: center Gaël Fickou (Racing 92), number 8 Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle) and winger Damian Penaud (UBB) are indeed missing. A clap of thunder all the more resounding as the first two named had been captains of the XV of France in the very recent past.
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The other surprises concern the arrival (or returns) of new additions, two years before the next World Cup in Australia, with the second row of Castres since 2020, Tom Staniforth (31 years old), of Australian origin. Another “UFO” in a second-straight position where the “French” pool lacks candidates. The solid number 5 (1.98 m for 124 kg) – famous for his mullet cut and best tackler in the Top 14 three seasons in a row (2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024) – will compete with Emmanuel Meafou, also Australian of origin, who has struggled in recent months to regain all his percussion strength.
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XV of France: Penaud and Fickou too reckless, the cheeky Alldritt… The underside of these sidelinings by Fabien Galthié
This first list includes other new players, but not the pillar of Australian origin Malachi Hawkes (23 years old), loaned this season by Stade Toulousain to Provence Rugby (Pro D2), announced by certain media. On the other hand, the pillar of Bayonne, Tefita Tatafu, injured for a long time (not the slightest minute of play this season in the Top 14…), is one of the lucky ones, just like Dany Priso (Toulon, trained in Ussel), who is making his return.
RC Toulon winger or fullback Gaël Dréan is called up, but not his teammate Mathis Ferté. Wingers Grégoire Arfeuil and Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, revelations of the first part of the season with the Section Paloise and international 7s, were recalled, as in November. Note the call-up of center Noah Nene (Stade Français) and fly-half Ugo Seunes (Racing 92). Parisian full-back Léo Barré was not selected, as was La Rochelle fly-half Antoine Hastoy. Among those returning from injury, Toulouse’s Peato Mauvaka (hooker), François Cros and Paul Boudehent (flankers) were – logically – recalled.
For the rest, Fabien Galthié and his deputies had to deal with absences due to injury, particularly at the scrum-half position. Deprived of Maxime Lucu and Nolann Le Garrec, the staff decided, to replace Antoine Dupont, to recall Baptiste Serin (Toulon), whose last selections date back to the 2024 summer tour with the Pumas, and Thibault Daubagna (Pau), present this summer with the All Blacks. Another notable absentee, Romain Ntamack, was recently injured in a kidney and he did not play in 2026. Bayonnais Joris Segonds not having been called up, Matthieu Jalibert, who has been walking on water in recent months with the UBB, should logically have the keys to the blue truck.
Grand Slam in sight for this even year
In this so-called “favorable” even year (receptions from Ireland in the opening and England in the closing), the Blues of Antoine Dupont – who has not played again in the national team since his injury against Ireland during the last edition – will try to retain their title, which has not happened since the double in 2006 and 2007. Of this group of 42 players, only 23 of them and five reserves will be selected for each match, the other 14 will return to their club in the middle of the week.
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The Blues will face Ireland at the Stade de France, Wales away, Italy at Lille, Scotland at Murrayfield and England at the Stade de France (see below). The days will continue without interruption, apart from two weeks without a match between February 22 and March 6 before the 4th day.
The group of 42 French people:
Forwards (25): Dorian Aldegheri (Stade Toulousain), Uini Atonio (Stade Rochelais), Hugo Auradou (Section Paloise), Cyril Baille (Stade Toulousain), Paul Boudehent (Stade Rochelais), François Cros (Stade Toulousain), Alexandre Fischer (Aviron Bayonnais), Thibaud Flament (Stade Toulousain), Jean-Baptiste Gros (RC Toulon), Mickaël Guillard (LOU Rugby), Oscar Jegou (Stade Rochelais), Anthony Jelonch (Stade Toulousain), Maxime Lamothe (Union Bordeaux-Bègles), Julien Marchand (Stade Toulousain), Temo Matiu (Union Bordeaux-Bègles), Peato Mauvaka (Stade Toulousain), Emmanuel Meafou (Stade Toulousain), Régis Montagne (ASM Clermont), Rodrigue Neti (Stade Toulousain), Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier HR), Charles Ollivon (RC Toulon), Dany Priso (RC Toulon), Thomas Staniforth (Castres Olympique), Tevita Tatafu (Aviron Bayonnais), Cameron Woki (Union Bordeaux-Bègles)
Backs (17): Grégoire Arfeuil (Section Paloise), Théo Attissogbe (Section Paloise), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Union Bordeaux-Bègles), Fabien Brau-Boirie (Section Paloise), Romain Buros (Union Bordeaux-Bègles), Thibault Daubagna (Section Paloise), Nicolas Depoortere (Union Bordeaux-Bègles), Gaël Dréan (RC Toulon), Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain), Kalvin Gourgues (Stade Toulousain), Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang (Section Paloise), Matthieu Jalibert (Union Bordeaux-Bègles), Yoram Moefana (Union Bordeaux-Bègles), Noah Nene (Stade Français), Thomas Ramos (Stade Toulousain), Baptiste Serin (RC Toulon), Ugo Seunes (Racing 92)
Distribution by club:
Stade Toulousain: 12 players
Union Bordeaux-Bègles: 8
Paloise section: 6
RC Toulon: 5
Stade Rochelais: 3
Rowing Bayonnais: 2
LOU Rugby : 1
ASM Clermont : 1
Montpellier : 1
Castres: 1
French Stadium: 1
Racing 92 : 1
Calendar of the XV of France:
February 5: France-Ireland, 9:10 p.m.
February 15: Wales-France, 4:10 p.m.
February 21: France-Italy (in Lille), 3:10 p.m.
March 7: Scotland-France, 3:10 p.m.
March 14: France-England, 9:10 p.m.
