France name five uncapped players in Six Nations squad

Rugby

France have included five uncapped players in their 31-man Six Nations squad.

Demba Bamba and Romain Ntamack, two members of France’s winning Under-20 World Cup squad, are joined by forwards Dorian Aldegheri and Gregory Alldriit and full-back Thomas Ramos.

Prop Bamba, 20, was part of head coach Jacques Brunel’s squad for the November Internationals last year, appearing from the bench in France’s defeat to Fiji, but is yet to make his full debut.

South African-born Paul Willemse is also named after he obtained French nationality. The lock, 26, qualifies for French residency after having played in the Top 14 for more than three years.

Guilhem Guirado has been named as captain and joins the returning Morgan Parra, who was sidelined for France’s three November Tests due to a wrist injury.

Les Blues open their Six Nations campaign against Wales in Paris on Friday Feb. 1 before they travel to Twickenham to face England a week later. France finished the 2018 tournament 4th in the table following wins over Italy and England.

Full Squad

Forwards (17): Dorian Aldegheri, Gregory Alldritt, Uini Atonio, Demba Bamba, Pierre Bourgarit, Yacouba Camara, Guilhem Guirado (c), Arthur Iturria, Felix Lambey, Wenceslas Lauret, Bernard Le Roux, Julien Marchand, Louis Picamoles, Jefferson Poirot, Dany Priso, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Paul Willemse

Backs (14): Mathieu Bastareaud, Anthony Belleau, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Antoine Dupont, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Yoann Huget, Camille Lopez, Maxime Medard, Romain Ntamack, Morgan Parra, Damian Penaud, Thomas Ramos, Baptiste Serin

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