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19 uncapped played in France's Six Nations squad... and Galthie also reveals a new captain
By Online Editors
Toulon flanker Charles Ollivon will captain France in this season’s Guinness Six Nations Championship. The 26-year-old’s first match in charge is against England at Stade de France on February 2.
Ollivon, whose appointment was announced by the French Rugby Federation, takes over from Guilhem Guirado, who has retired from Test rugby. It is the first key playing appointment of new Les Blues’ head coach Fabien Galthie’s reign.
“I will take advantage of every second because it is a great honour,” Ollivon told the FFR website. “Fabien called me when I was at home. It was a special moment. I look forward to starting this new adventure.
"This is close to my heart. I come from a territory where identity is strong. So no doubt that when it comes to the France jersey and what it represents, that speaks to me. It is a thing apart because it is the highest level we can reach... responsibilities are entrusted to me and I want to be up to the task. I will give everything for this team."
Galthie, meanwhile, has named a 42-man squad ahead of the tournament, including 19 uncapped players. The list of international rookies includes Lyon lock Killian Geraci, Clermont Auvergne back row forward Alexandre Fischer, plus backs Maxime Lucu, Louis Carbonel and Arthur Vincent.
And among a number of established names to miss out are wing Yoann Huget, fly-half Camille Lopez, scrum-half Maxime Machenaud, prop Ribah Slimani and flanker Wenceslas Lauret.
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Latest Comments
Interesting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
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