The French rugby squad just got a major boost for the upcoming Nations Championship, as nine warriors fresh from the Top 14 final are joining the fray, including none other than the maestro himself, Antoine Dupont. This marks a significant moment as Dupont sets foot again in the southern hemisphere battlegrounds, his first since a 2017 clash in Durban. The reinforcements were enlisted following Toulouse's triumph over Montpellier, a gritty 28-20 showdown at Stade de France.
While these newly called-up players will sit out the initial skirmish against the All Blacks in Christchurch, they'll be donning the blue jersey in upcoming tests against the Wallabies in Brisbane and Japan in Tokyo. The anticipation is particularly high for Dupont, whose leadership and savvy playmaking are expected to inject some serious dynamism into the French lineup.
Dupont isn't the only Toulouse talent making the trip south. He's joined by teammates Peato Mauvaka, Emmanuel Meafou, Alexandre Roumat, Romain Ntamack, and Kalvin Gourgues. Not to be outdone, Montpellier is contributing their own trio of Florian Verhaeghe, Lenni Nouchi, and Auguste Cadot to the national squad.
"Mauvaka ça rime avec pas de l’oie!"
Beyond the excitement of individual call-ups, the composition of the squad hints at France's strategic ambitions. The forward pack is stacked with powerhouses like Moses Alo-Émile, Hugo Auradou, and Demba Bamba, while the backs bring speed and agility with talents like Theo Attissogbe and Damian Penaud.
As the French team gears up for what promises to be a thrilling series of matches, all eyes will be on how this blend of seasoned warriors and fresh blood performs on the international stage. Dupont's return to the southern hemisphere is not just a personal milestone—it's a beacon of hope for a squad eager to prove their mettle against some of the toughest teams in rugby.
France squad
Forwards: Moses Alo-Émile, Hugo Auradou, Demba Bamba, Esteban Capilla, Sipili Falatea, Marko Gazzotti, Mickaël Guillard, Oscar Jegou, Maxime Lamothe, Barnabé Massa, Temo Matiu, Peato Mauvaka, Emmanuel Meafou, Régis Montagne, Lenni Nouchi, Boris Palu, Jefferson Poirot, Alexandre Roumat, Tom Staniforth, Tevit Tatafu, Killian Tixeront, Reda Wardi, Florian Verhaeghe.
Backs: Theo Attissogbe, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Auguste Cadot, Nicolas Depoortere, Antoine Dupont, Mathis Ferté, Théo Forner, Émilien Gailleton, Kalvin Gourgues, Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, Antoine Hastoy, Matthieu Jalibert, Nolann le Garrec, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Romain Ntamack, Damian Penaud, Max Spring.