Joshua Brennan, a native of Dublin and the offspring of Trevor, a renowned Irish international rugby player, has been selected for the French team for the Autumn Nations Series. The second rower from Toulouse is one of many fresh faces brought into the team by the coach Fabien Galthie, including Tevita Tatafu, a tighthead from Tonga, as well as Bordeaux Begles’ open side players Marko Gazzoti and Pierre Bochaton. Paul Costes, a centre from Toulouse, has also been given his initial call up to the team.
Following his impressive Olympics Sevens gold medal win, Antoine Dupont is making his comeback to the French team, with the World Cup last year being his last appearance. Fabien Galthie named a squad of 42 players who are up against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina in the three November tests. This is France’s first international since the Argentinian tour scandal in July, which saw two players arrested on rape charges and Melvyn Jaminet, a fullback, sent home and suspended for a lengthy period due to his racist comments on social media.
The players heading to South America saw many key members of the team taking a break, but the team returned nearly at full strength for the November internationals, bar another injury to Romain Ntamack, the outhalf, a fortnight ago from a tear in his calf during a domestic league match, as well as the exclusion of Julien Marchand, a hooker.
Paul Costes, a 21-year-old centre from Toulouse, has also received his first summons to the team. France will compete against Japan on November 9th, New Zealand on the 16th of November and Argentina on the 22nd of November. Each of these matches are set to take place at Stade de France in Paris. The squad includes:
The line-up includes Gregory Aldritt and Uini Antonio from Stade Rochelais, Gaetan Barlot from Castres, Pierre Bochaton and Marko Gazzotti from Bordeaux Begles, Paul Boudehent from Stade Rochelais, Joshua Brennan from Stade Toulousain, Georges-Henri Colombe from Stade Rochelais, Francois Cros and Thibaud Flament from Stade Toulousain, and Jean-Baptiste Gros of Toulon among the forwards. The list also includes Mickael Guillard of Lyon Olympique, Anthony Jelonch from Stade Toulousain, Maxime Lamothe, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Romain Buros, and the trio of Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana and Damian Penaud, all from Bordeaux Begles.
In the backs, the squad features Leo Barre from Stade Francais, Leo Berdeu of Lyon Olympique, Paul Costes and Mathis Lebel from Stade Toulousain, Jonathan Danty of Stade Rochelais, Antoine Dupont of Stade Toulousain, Gael Fickou and Nolann Le Garrec from Racing 92, but also includes Gabin Villiere from Toulon and Theo Attissogbe and Emilien Gailleton from Section Paloise.
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