The French Rugby Federation announced on Tuesday that Gael Fickou, a French rugby player, will captain an inexperienced France team for their upcoming rugby tour in New Zealand this summer.
The reigning Six Nations champions will be without many key senior players, including Gregory Alldritt, for the three matches against the All Blacks on July 5, 12, and 19.
Coach Fabien Galthié has initially selected 37 players for the tour. This list is expected to expand by up to five additional players following Saturday’s Top 14 final between Toulouse and Bordeaux-Begles, depending on their season minutes.
Fickou, the Racing 92 centre, captained the side in their recent friendly victory over England and, with 94 caps, is the most experienced active French player.
The 31-year-old will be tasked with providing vital experience to a squad that includes 28 players with fewer than 10 international caps.
Fickou will be joined by other seasoned veterans such as prop Rabah Slimani and second-row Romain Taofifenua.
However, several other prominent players, including forwards Alldritt, Paul Boudehent, and Jean-Baptiste Gros, are absent due to injury or being rested.
Players from the Top 14 finalists like Romain Ntamack, Thomas Ramos, Thibaud Flament, Damian Penaud, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey could still join the squad after the final, provided they have not exceeded their national team’s season minute quota.
Galthié has, however, been able to select players from the defeated Top 14 semi-finalists, including Bayonne fly-half Joris Segonds, Toulon flanker Esteban Abadie, and winger Gabin Villiere.
France has not defeated the All Blacks in New Zealand since 2009.
France Squad for New Zealand Tour:
Forwards (21): Esteban Abadie (Toulon), Hugo Auradou (Pau), Demba Bamba (Racing 92), Gaetan Barlot (Castres), Giorgi Beria (Perpignan), Pierre Bourgarit (La Rochelle), Georges-Henri Colombe (La Rochelle), Tyler Duguid (Montpellier), Baptiste Erdocio (Montpellier), Alexandre Fischer (Clermont), Mickael Guillard (Lyon), Matthias Halagahu (Toulon), Paul Mallez (Provence), Guillaume Marchand (Lyon), Regis Montagne (Clermont), Rabah Slimani (Leinster), Romain Taofifenua (Racing 92), Killian Tixeront (Clermont), Jacobus Van Tonder (Perpignan), Theo William (Lyon), and Cameron Woki (Racing 92).
Backs (16): Theo Attissogbe (Pau), Leo Barre (Stade Francais), Leo Berdeu (Lyon), Leon Darricarrere (Clermont), Thibault Daubagna (Pau), Alivereti Duguivalu (Perpignan), Gael Fickou (Racing 92), Emilien Gailleton (Pau), Antoine Hastoy (La Rochelle), Baptiste Jauneau (Clermont), Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92), Theo Millet (Lyon), Joris Segonds (Bayonne), Tom Spring (Bayonne), Cheikh Tiberghien (Bayonne), Gabin Villiere (Toulon).
