France spring captaincy surprise as Australian lock selected for Six Nations :

France have revealed that La Rochelle’s Gregory Alldritt will captain the side for the upcoming Six Nations Championship.

The number eight has been a key part of the squad under head coach Fabien Galthie over the last few years and has now been handed the extra leadership responsibility.

Alldritt takes over from Antoine Dupont, who will miss the Six Nations to focus on sevens ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Ollivon misses out

Interestingly, the 26-year-old has been chosen for the role ahead of the outstanding Charles Ollivon, despite the flanker being included in the squad.

Ollivon was Galthie’s skipper before an injury in 2022 saw him miss the Six Nations. Dupont then took it on and led Les Bleus into the Rugby World Cup, which culminated in a quarter-final exit.

They will be looking to respond to that disappointment at their home tournament and have named an incredibly strong squad.

Among the new and inexperienced players, it is headlined by the inclusion of Emmanuel Meafou after the New Zealand-born, Australian-raised lock was selected for the first time.

There were initially hopes that the second-row could make the World Cup, but it was revealed that Meafou did not qualify until after the competition.

He is joined in the squad by Toulon’s Esteban Abadie and Matthias Halagahu, while on the other side of the experience spectrum, Uini Atonio and Romain Taofifenua are also included after reversing their retirement decisions.

Behind the scrum, Galthie has selected just two players in the all-important scrum-half position vacated by Dupont.

As expected, Maxime Lucu is there and he will be backed up by Racing 92’s highly-rated youngster Nolann Le Garrec.

There is no space for the likes of Baptiste Jauneau or Baptiste Couilloud, but the versatile Antoine Gibert, who can play either half-back positions, has received a call-up.

Gibert will primarily be back-up to Matthieu Jalibert at fly-half, but he can also step in at scrum-half if required.

Elsewhere, 20-year-old Emilien Gailleton will hope to get more game time after just missing out on the World Cup, while Nicolas Depoortere is selected for the first time in the squad.

France’s 34-man Six Nations squad

Forwards: Cyril Baille, Reda Wardi, Sebastien Taofifenua, Dorian Aldegheri, Uini Atonio, Thomas Laclayat, Julien Marchand, Peato Mauvaka, Gaetan Barlot, Emmanuel Meafou, Romain Taofifenua, Cameron Woki, Paul Gabrillagues, Matthias Halagahu, Gregory Alldritt, Francois Cros, Anthony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon, Esteban Abadie, Paul Boudehent

Backs: Nolann Le Garrec, Maxime Lucu, Antoine Gibert, Matthieu Jalibert, Jonathan Danty, Nicolas Depoortere, Gael Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Emilien Gailleton, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud, Matthis Lebel, Melvyn Jaminet, Thomas Ramos

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