France coach Fabien Galthie has made sweeping changes to his plans for the Six Nations, leaving Damian Penaud, Gregory Alldritt and Gael Fickou out of his 42-man squad on Wednesday as Antoine Dupont returns from injury.
The omissions of Penaud, France’s all-time leading try-scorer, former captain Alldritt and centurion centre Fickou mark a major shake-up by Galthie ahead of the championship, signalling a clear shift in selection strategy.
Dupont’s return provides a boost for France after the scrumhalf missed the end of last year’s autumn programme through injury, with the Toulouse player expected to resume a central role in Galthie’s plans.
📣🇫🇷 Découvrez le groupe des 𝟒𝟐 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬 appelés pour le Tournoi des Six Nations 2026 !
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) January 21, 2026
𝗧𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲̀𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘂𝘀 !
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Dupont has been sidelined since early March after rupturing the cruciate ligaments in his right knee during France’s 42-27 win over Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations, an injury that required surgery and kept him out for more than eight months.
Flyhalf Roman Ntamack was also left out of the squad after picking up an unspecified injury with Toulouse this month.
France open their Six Nations campaign next month against Ireland at home as they aim to retain their title.
FRANCE SQUAD
Backs: Gregoire Arfeuil (Pau), Theo Attissogbe (Pau), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Begles), Fabien Brau-Boirie (Pau), Romain Buros (Bordeaux-Begles), Thibault Daubagna (Pau), Nicolas Depoortere (Bordeaux-Begles), Gael Drean (Toulon), Antoine Dupont (Toulouse), Kalvin Gourgues (Toulouse), Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang (Pau), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles), Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Begles), Noah Nene (Stade Francais), Thomas Ramos (Toulouse), Baptiste Serin (Toulon), Ugo Seunes (Racing 92)
Forwards: Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Hugo Auradou (Pau), Cyril Baille (Toulouse), Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle), Francois Cros (Toulouse), Alexandre Fischer (Bayonne), Thibaud Flament (Toulouse), Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon), Mickael Guillard (Lyon), Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle), Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse), Maxime Lamothe (Bordeaux-Begles), Julien Marchand (Toulouse), Temo Matiu (Bordeaux-Begles), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse), Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse), Régis Montagne (Clermont), Rodrigue Neti (Toulouse), Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier), Charles Ollivon (Toulon), Dany Priso (Toulon), Thomas Staniforth (Castres), Tevita Tatafu (Bayonne), Cameron Woki (Bordeaux-Begles)