France have named 20-year-old midfielder Noah Nene, who plays for second-tier side DAX, in their 42-man Six Nations squad.
Nene was a fringe member of the France Under-20 squad last season, but impressed on loan from parent club Stade Francais, where he established himself as a first-choice midfielder for DAX.
Elsewhere, fly-half Romain Ntamack returns to the France fold for the first time in more than a year. The 25-year-old suffered a serious knee injury just before the 2023 Rugby World Cup and missed international matches in the autumn with a calf problem.
Captain Antoine Dupont, who missed last year's Six Nations to prepare for France's successful bid for the sevens gold at Paris 2024, has been named alongside Mathieu Jalibert, who started in place of Ntamack at the World Cup but chose not to be named as a World Cup substitute. . autumn.
The list also included attackers Hugo Urrado and Oscar Jejo, against whom rape charges were dropped last month in Argentina.
Coach Fabien Galthie explained his thinking behind giving the opportunity to Orado and Guegu, who were accused of rape, during France's summer tour in Argentina. The woman's lawyer appealed the decision to drop the case.
“The case has been dropped, which is clear and obvious,” Galthie told RMC radio before announcing his lineup. “From the moment the case was dropped, we consider them innocent.”
“After a coherent procedure, they can be selected.”
More than five years after his last international appearance, Leinster's Rabah Slimani returns. The 35-year-old, who moved to Dublin from Claremont at the start of this season, made his final appearance of 57 caps in the quarter-final defeat to Wales at Japan 2019.
Experienced duo Charles Ollivon and Gael Fico are struggling with injury, but there is room for Joshua Brennan, the son of former Leinster, Toulouse and Ireland striker Trevor Brennan.
France, who finished second in the last six nations after winning the Grand Slam title in 2022, will play Wales at home in their opening match on Friday, January 31.
