France have officially begun life without Shaun Edwards after the legendary defence coach was absent as Fabien Galthié named a 28-man squad for this month’s uncapped clash against an England XV in Vannes.
Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.
Edwards is currently negotiating his exit after being stood down with immediate effect despite having 18 months remaining on his contract.
Reports suggest the French Rugby Federation is keen to prevent the former Wales defence coach from immediately joining a rival international side ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. France are believed to be exploring a deal that would stop Edwards taking up another Test role before next year’s tournament.
The squad is heavily dominated by players from European Champions Cup winners Bordeaux-Bègles, with nine selected following the club’s failure to reach the Top 14 play-offs.
Among them are centres Yoram Moefana and Nicolas Depoortere, while seven Bordeaux forwards have also been included.
One of the biggest talking points is the return of loosehead prop Jefferson Poirot. The former France captain retired from Test rugby six years ago, citing a lack of motivation, but has now earned a surprise recall.
Several star names have been rested, including Maxime Lucu, Matthieu Jalibert and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, while experienced number eight Gregory Alldritt remains unavailable.
Galthié has also handed opportunities to the next generation, with nine uncapped players included as France begin preparations for a Nations Championship campaign that will see them face New Zealand, Australia and Japan later this summer.
NAME EVERY ENGLAND CAPTAIN OF THE PROFESSIONAL ERA:
Since rugby turned professional in 1995, England have had a host of captains lead the team through World Cups, Grand Slams, Lions tours and some of the biggest moments in the sport’s history.
From World Cup-winning legends to short-term stand-ins, how many England captains of the professional era can you name?
You have five minutes to name them all. Good luck!
