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French Head Coach Guy Noves has selected 17 players for his team’s upcoming two-match tour of Argentina. France will play tests in Tucumán on June 19 and 25.
Due to the Rugby World Cup the French domestic season was forced to adapt which means the Top 14 is not yet completed. Remaining are the barrage play-off’s, Semi Finals and Finals. Noves is currently without access to those whose clubs are competing in these matches.
Nonetheless with there still being 11 places there are to be opportunities for the potential inclusion of players from the two eliminated clubs at the barrage stage. This coming weekend will see Racing 92 hosting Toulouse and Montpellier at home to Castres.
Of the 17 players named this morning by Noves sevens are uncapped. Room has even been found for Agen second-rower William demotte. Imprssive performances in recent rounds have seen the relegated club having a player called-up.
Other uncapped players include Julien Le Devedec, Julien Rey and Baptiste Serin (Bordeaux), Rémi Bonfils (Stade Français), Xavier Mignot (Grenoble) and Kevin Gourdon (La Rochelle). Of them Serin and Gourdon trained with the Six Nations roster.
Without Castres, Clermont, Montpellier, Racing 92, Toulon and Toulouse players Noves it is Stade Français which has the greatest representation. Last seasons’s Top 14 champions accounts for seven of the seventeen selected players.
The biggest question, though, surrounds the non-selection of Gaëtan Germain. The leading scorer in the Top 14, Germain has been a regular in the team of the week. The Brive fullback has missed out with Stade Français’ Hugo Bonneval set to start from the back.
