Before flying out to the southern hemisphere, France have unveiled their squad for the Nations Championship, which will pit them against New Zealand (4 July), Australia (11 July) and then Japan (18 July). A list of 39 players marked by a strong Bordeaux flavour, the captaincy handed to Maxime Lucu and several notable absences.

Lucu captain, UBB out in force

It is one of the big talking points: Maxime Lucu will wear the armband for France on this tour. The Bordeaux scrum-half symbolises the weight of Union Bordeaux-Bègles, twice European champions, who place twelve players in the squad — by far the biggest contingent.

Penaud returns, Dupont waiting in the wings

The most striking return is official: Damian Penaud, France’s all-time record try-scorer, is back with the squad after missing the whole of the last Six Nations. Another return is only pencilled in for now: that of Antoine Dupont. The France captain, who has not worn the national jersey at this time of year since 2017, is not yet on the list — like all the Toulouse players, held back by the Top 14 final — but he is expected, according to L’Équipe, to join the tour in the southern hemisphere once the final has been played. The squad will in fact be completed in the middle of the week.

The big absentees

Other senior men, on the other hand, are clearly missing. Louis Bielle-Biarrey (34 tries this season) has been rested, while Gaël Fickou (98 caps) has still not been recalled by Fabien Galthié.

The core squad, position by position

Front row: Réda Wardi (La Rochelle), Jefferson Poirot (UBB), Maxime Lamothe (UBB), Barnabé Massa (Clermont), Lucas Martin (Bayonne), Emerick Setiano (Bayonne), Régis Montagne (Clermont), Sipili Falatea (UBB)

Second row: Mickaël Guillard (LOU), Boris Palu (UBB), Tom Staniforth (Castres)

Back row: Esteban Capilla (Bayonne), Pierre Bochaton (UBB), Marko Gazzotti (UBB), Temo Matiu (UBB), Killian Tixeront (Clermont)

Scrum-halves: Baptiste Jauneau (Clermont), Nolann Le Garrec (La Rochelle)

Fly-halves: Antoine Hastoy (La Rochelle), Louis Le Brun (Castres)

Centres: Nicolas Depoortere (UBB), Yoram Moefana (UBB), Fabien Brau-Boirie (Pau)

Wings: Christian Ambadiang (Castres)

Full-backs: Mathis Ferté (Toulon), Théo Attissogbe (Pau)

The 13 reinforcements called up on 21 June

Moses Alo-Émile (Stade Français), Hugo Auradou (Pau), Demba Bamba (Racing 92), Théo Forner (USAP), Émilien Gailleton (Pau), Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang (Pau), Loïs Guérois (Castres), Matthieu Jalibert (UBB), Oscar Jégou (La Rochelle), Maxime Lucu (UBB, captain), Damian Penaud (UBB), Max Spring (Racing 92), Tevita Tatafu (Aviron Bayonnais).

That makes 39 players in all. Withdrawn through injury: Grégoire Arfeuil and Axel Despères. The FFR will announce the final travelling party for New Zealand by Wednesday.

Three tests in the southern hemisphere

France will begin their Nations Championship against New Zealand on 4 July in Christchurch (09:10), before taking on Australia on 11 July in Brisbane, then Japan on 18 July in Tokyo. A summer tour that looks like one vast testing ground, a little over a year out from the 2027 World Cup in Australia.