The French rugby coach Jacques Brunel has named an experienced squad to tour New Zealand next month with just one debutant in his 32 man squad.
Halfback Morgan Parra is back in the French rugby side for the first time since the 2015 World Cup after being named in the 32-man touring party for New Zealand.
In naming his squad Brunel has one eye on next year’s World Cup.
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“This tour of New Zealand against the All Blacks is a wonderful challenge that we are eager to meet,” he said.
“This is the ultimate opportunity for us to make a final review of the squad and to see new players join the France group before this pre-World Cup season begins.
“Some players in this group had this opportunity and seized it and are still with us.
“During this tour, others can come back or take their chance because the upcoming season will see the group tightening during the tour of November 2018 and the 2019 tournament in anticipation of the Rugby World Cup at Japan.”
France squad to tour New Zealand:
Uini Atonio
Mathieu Babillot
Cyril Baille
Mathieu Bastareaud
Anthony Belleau
Eddy Ben Arous
Hugo Bonneval
Pierre Bourgarit
Camille Chat
Geoffrey Doumayrou
Benjamin Fall
Gaël Fickou
Wesley Fofana
Paul Gabrillagues
Kélian Galletier
Cedate Gomes Sa
Kevin Gourdon
Rémy Grosso
Félix Lambey
Rémi Lamerat
Alexandre Lapandry
Bernard Le Roux
Yoann Maestri
Maxime Medard
Morgan Parra
Adrien Pelissie
Jules Plisson
Dany Priso
Fabien Sanconnie
Baptiste Serin
Rabah Slimani
Teddy Thomas