PARIS — Fresh off securing the Olympic rugby sevens title this summer in France, scrumhalf Antoine Dupont has been included in coach Fabien Galthié’s squad for the upcoming autumn tests.
Galthié announced the selection of a 42-player roster on Wednesday, which features eight players still looking to earn their first caps. The French national team is set to compete against Japan, New Zealand, and Argentina next month.
Dupont has not been part of the France XV since their quarterfinal elimination by South Africa in the previous year’s World Cup. After bypassing the Six Nations this spring, Dupont shifted his focus from the traditional 15s format to rugby sevens with the goal of capturing Olympic gold while playing on home ground.
There is still uncertainty surrounding whether he will be reinstated as team captain.
Among the notable absentees from the squad are injured hooker Julien Marchand of Toulouse and Romain Ntamack, who is in recovery from a torn calf muscle. Both players could rejoin the squad at a later date. Additionally, prop Cyril Baille and center Nicolas Depoortere are currently sidelined due to injuries.
Among the eight uncapped players selected, some have participated in previous training sessions under Galthié. A standout among them is 22-year-old Joshua Brennan, a lock from Toulouse and the son of former Ireland international Trevor Brennan.
Brennan has a history with the U20 French team and has captained various youth selections throughout his career.
The following is the complete roster for the France national team:
Forwards: Grégory Aldritt (Stade Rochelais), Uini Atonio (Stade Rochelais), Gaëtan Barlot (Castres Olympique), Pierre Bochaton (Union Bordeaux Bègles), Paul Boudehent (Stade Rochelais), Joshua Brennan (Stade Toulousain), Georges-Henri Colombe (Stade Rochelais), François Cros (Stade Toulousain), Thibaud Flament (Stade Toulousain), Marko Gazzotti (Union Bordeaux Bègles), Jean-Baptiste Gros (RC Toulon), Mickaël Guillard (Lyon OU Rugby), Anthony Jelonch (Stade Toulousain), Maxime Lamothe (Union Bordeaux Bègles), Peato Mauvaka (Stade Toulousain), Emmanuel Meafou (Stade Toulousain), Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier Hérault Rugby), Charles Ollivon (RC Toulon), Alexandre Roumat (Stade Toulousain), Romain Taofifenua (Racing 92), Sébastien Taofifenua (Lyon OU Rugby), Tevita Tatafu (Aviron Bayonnais), Reda Wardi (Stade Rochelais).
Backs: Théo Attissogbe (Section Paloise), Léo Barré (Stade Français), Léo Berdeu (Lyon OU Rugby), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Union Bordeaux Bègles), Romain Buros (Union Bordeaux Bègles), Paul Costes (Stade Toulousain), Jonathan Danty (Stade Rochelais), Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain), Gaël Fickou (Racing 92), Antoine Frisch (RC Toulon), Émilien Gailleton (Section Paloise), Mathieu Jalibert (Union Bordeaux Bègles), Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92), Matthis Lebel (Stade Toulousain), Maxime Lucu (Union Bordeaux Bègles), Yoram Moefana (Union Bordeaux Bègles), Damian Penaud (Union Bordeaux Bègles), Thomas Ramos (Stade Toulousain), Gabin Villière (RC Toulon).