There were 38 of them, now there are only 32! France women’s head coaching duo David Ortiz and Gaëlle Mignot announced on Saturday at the CNR national rugby centre in Marcoussis the final list of players selected for the World Cup, which will be held in England from 22 August to 27 September. A moment that gets the event under way, full of joy for the lucky ones and full of sadness for those left behind on the quayside.

Up front, the axe fell on back-rower Emeline Gros (37 caps), prop Clara Joyeux (48 caps) and hooker Laure Touyé (29 caps). Among the backs, Blagnac’s Mélissande Llorens Vignères, Toulouse’s Océane Bordes (2 caps) and her Toulouse team-mate and sevens specialist Lili Dezou (0 caps) will not be taking the Eurostar. Nor will young Grenoble prop Ambre Myayembe, who has a leg injury and whose withdrawal was confirmed the day before. She has been replaced by Bordeaux’s Marakita Baleinadogo, a newcomer in blue.

The full list of 32

Forwards: Makarita Baleinadogo (Stade bordelais), Rose Bernadou (Montpellier), Axelle Berthoumieu (Stade bordelais), Manon Bigot (Blagnac), Yllana Brosseau (Romagnat), Léa Champon (Grenoble), Khoudedia Cissokho (Stade bordelais), Annaëlle Deshaye (Stade bordelais), Charlotte Escudero (Stade toulousain), Madoussou Fall Raclot (Stade bordelais), Manae Feleu (Grenoble), Téani Feleu (Grenoble), Agathe Sochat (Stade bordelais), Hina Ikahehegi (Stade bordelais), Assia Khalfaoui (Romagnat), Taina Maka (Grenoble), Marie Morland (Lou Rugby), Séraphine Okemba (Lou Rugby), Élisa Riffonneau (Grenoble)

Backs: Kelly Arbey (Stade toulousain), Carla Arbez (Stade bordelais), Émilie Boulard (Blagnac), Pauline Bourdon Sansus (Stade toulousain), Morgane Bourgeois (Stade bordelais), Alexandra Chambon (Romagnat), Joanna Grisez (Stade bordelais), Nassira Konde (Stade bordelais), Marine Ménager (Montpellier), Carla Neisen (Blagnac), Lina Queyroi (Stade toulousain), Lina Tuy (Romagnat), Gabrielle Vernier (Blagnac).