The France women’s squad for the autumn is out. François Ratier has picked 38 players for the WXV Global Series, which runs from 12 September to 31 October. But he will have to manage without his usual captain, Manae Feleu, who is tied up with her medical exams.
A career choice she stands by
“Manae Feleu, the captain, will not be available for this competition because of her medical studies,” said the FFR (French Rugby Federation) in a statement released on Thursday. The 26-year-old Grenoble lock had already raised the possibility in March, in an interview with Midi Olympique, with her residency entrance exams in mind. A mainstay of the France side, she was coming off a full 2026 Six Nations: 5 starts and 2 tries, and second place behind England.
The FFR has not named a replacement captain. Pauline Bourdon Sansus and Gabrielle Vernier, who has moved to Gloucester-Hartpury this season, are the obvious candidates.
Four medical absentees and a huge schedule
Along with Feleu, four players are missing for medical reasons: Joanna Grisez, Pauline Barrat, Kiara Zago and Lina Tuy. To make up for it, François Ratier has widened his group to 38 names, with strong representation from the Top 14 féminin.
September alone is enough to make your head spin: New Zealand on the 12th in Lyon, then two fixtures in Aix-en-Provence on the 19th and in La Rochelle on the 26th, against Australia and Canada, before an October tour to face the Black Ferns. Four meetings in all with the world champions from New Zealand. “Three World Cup semi-finals in three weeks,” the head coach says.
Her 2025-2026 season in numbers
| Team | Competition | Matches | Starts | Tries | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France Women | Six Nations 2026 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Grenoble Amazones | Élite 1 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 15 |
A starter in all 14 of her appearances this season, for club and country, Manae Feleu leaves behind a gap on the pitch as well as an armband to hand on.
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