Coach Fabien Galthié revealed on Tuesday the list of 42 players called up to prepare for the Six Nations Tournament starting next Sunday.
The Blues will meet in Capbreton (Landes) for the first match in Italy on Sunday February 5.
In the absence of many injured players (Cameron Woki, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Maxime Lucu, Arthur Vincent, Jonathan Danty or Gabin Villière), we nevertheless find the hard core of the Blues, victorious at the Grand Slam a year ago and who intend to defend their title.
Antoine Dupont, confirmed in his role as captain, is obviously present as are the other leaders Julien Marchand, Grégory Alldritt, Anthony Jelonch, Gaël Fickou, Romain Ntamack or Damian Penaud.
Note the return to the third line of François Cros, absent during the November tour, who will compete with Charles Ollivon and Anthony Jelonch for a place in the starting XV.
At the back, the last two incumbents Melvyn Jaminet and Thomas Ramos were retained.
This list also includes eight players with zero selection, most of whom have already attended the France group during previous gatherings: third-line Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle), scrum-half Léo Coly (Montpellier) and Nolan Le Garrec (Racing 92), centers Julien Delbouis (Stade Français) and Emilien Gailleton (Pau), wingers Ethan Dumortier (LOU) and Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Bègles) as well as rear Romain Buros (Bordeaux-Bègles).
After Italy, the Blues have an appointment in Ireland on February 11 for a shock against the first nation in the world.
Then will come matches against Scotland (February 26), England (March 11) and Wales to conclude (March 18).
The list of 42
Pillars:
Atonio, Baille, Falatea, Haouas, Priso, Wardi.
Hookers:
Barlot, Baubigny, Marchand.
Second row:
Chalureau, Flament, Jolmes, Lavault, Taofifenua, Willemse.
Third row:
Alldritt, Bécognée, Boudehent, Camara, Cretin, Cros, Jelonch, Macalou, Ollivon.
Running backs:
Coly, Dupont (cap.), Le Garrec;
Hastoy, Jalibert, Ntamack.
Centers:
Barassi, Delbouis, Fickou, Gailleton, Moefana.
Wing-backs:
Bielle-Biarrey, Buros, Dumortier, Jaminet, Lebel, Penaud, Ramos.