Rugby-France name squad for opening Nations Championship encounter

France named a 33-player squad for the Nations Championship, with nine spots reserved for players from Montpellier and Toulouse to join after this weekend's Top 14 final.

France named 33 players on ​Tuesday for their opening Nations ​Championship fixture against New Zealand ‌but are ​expected to strengthen the squad after this weekend’s Top 14 final. Coach Fabien Galthie trimmed his squad ‌from 39 players who had been at a training camp, ahead of Tuesday’s departure for Australia.

He left nine places available for players from Montpellier and Toulouse ‌to join after they play on Saturday, including first-choice halfback Antoine Dupont ‌and Romain Ntamack. Winger Damian Penaud returns to the squad after missing out on the Six Nations tournament, while there are seven uncapped players including Australia-born lock Tom Staniforth and Olympic ⁠sevens gold ​medallist Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang.

France ⁠will be based in Brisbane as they prepare for their first fixture in the new ⁠competition against New Zealand in Christchurch on July 4, followed by Australia in Brisbane ​on July 11 and Japan in Tokyo on July 18. Squad

Backs: Theo ⁠Attissogbe, Fabien Brau-Boirie (both Pau), Nicolas Depoortere (Bordeaux-Begles), Mathis Ferte (Toulon), Theo Forner (Perpignan), Emilien Gailleton, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang (both Pau), Antoine ⁠Hastoy (La ​Rochelle), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles), Nolann Le Garrec (La Rochelle), Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Damian Penaud (all Bordeaux-Begles), Max Spring (Racing 92) Forwards: Moses Alo-Emile (Stade Francais), Hugo Auradou (Pau), Demba ⁠Bamba (Racing 92), Pierre Bochaton (Bordeaux-Begles), Esteban Capilla (Bayonne), Sipili Falatea, Marko Gazzotti (both Bordeaux-Begles), Mickael Guillard (Lyon), ⁠Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle), ⁠Maxime Lamothe (Bordeaux-Begles), Barnabé Massa (Clermont), Temo Matiu (Bordeaux-Begles), Regis Montagne (Clermont), Boris Palu, Jefferson Poirot (both Bordeaux-Begles), Tom Staniforth (Castres), Tevita Tatafu (Bayonne), Killian Tixeront (Clermont), ‌Reda Wardi (La ‌Rochelle). (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Atlanta; Editing ​by Clare Fallon)