Injuries continue to accumulate among the players of the French XV.
Victim of a crutch during Toulon's victory against La Rochelle on Saturday evening (25-23), RCT fullback Melvyn Jaminet had to withdraw from the first match of the Blues in the 2024 Six Nations Tournament against Ireland, Friday evening (9 p.m.).
He is replaced by Stade Français fullback Léo Barré (21 years old, 0 caps), author of an excellent start to the season with the Parisian club.
Jaminet (24 years old, 19 caps), who scored 20 points against Stade Rochelais, is in fact absent from the list of six players recalled Sunday evening by the Blues staff to rejoin the group preparing for the first match of the Tournament, at Marseille, against the XV du Trèfle.
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The colossal second row of USAP Posolo Tuilagi (19 years old, 1.92 m and 145 kg), under-20 world champion, was summoned.
The center of Pau Émilien Gailleton (20 years old, 1 sel.), the third row of Toulon Esteban Abadie (26 years old, 0 sel.), the hooker of Castres Gaëtan Barlot (26 years old, 7 sel.) and the third row of Montpellier Lenni Nouchi (20 years old, 0 sel) are the other players also called to Marcoussis.
Team composition announced Wednesday
Under the amendment to the agreement between the French Rugby Federation and the National Rugby League, 34 players now participate in each gathering of the French XV.
Six of them are released mid-week to join their clubs, replaced by six others who come to train.
Then, at the end of the week, the staff announced a new list of six players to join the 28 remaining at Marcoussis.
Three months after the frustrating defeat in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup against South Africa (28-29), the Blues return to competition against Ireland in Marseille, opening the 2024 Six Nations Tournament. A shock looks like a final before the letter between the two best European teams of recent years.
The composition of the team for this meeting will be revealed on Wednesday.
The six players recalled this Sunday have no chance of joining the group of 23 players retained on the match sheet.
The French XV possible against Ireland
Ramos - Bielle-Biarrey, Danty, Fickou, Penaud - (o) Jalibert, (m) Lucu - Cros, Alldritt (cap.), Ollivon - Gabrillagues, Willemse - Baille, Mauvaka, Atonio.