The staff of the XV de France has indeed convened an enlarged group, without the semi-finalists of the Top 14 (Toulouse, La Rochelle, Racing 92, Bordeaux-Bègles) for a first gathering at the CNR from 7 to 9 June before moving on to serious things, a month later in Monaco.
. Vincent, Villière, Serin... Injured on trial
It will be necessary to judge their state of form. The Montpellier center Arthur Vincent had started the mandate of Fabien Galthié in the shoes of a luxury replacement. Las, the young nugget from Hérault (23 years, 14 caps), captain of the U20 world champions in 2019, comes out of two almost blank seasons (7 games, 572 minutes of play). Doubly hit in a knee, Vincent sees the end of the tunnel and has embarked on a race against the clock to catch the wagon of the World Cup. His freelancing in Marcoussis will gauge his level and reassure the staff of the XV de France.
The same goes for Toulon's Jean-Baptiste Gros and Gabin Villière or Lyon's Killian Geraci. The Toulouse Anthony Jelonch, victim of a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee and who is "ahead" according to Galthié, has obviously not been called.
The Montpellier Yacouba Camara and Paul Willemse have been summoned among the three "players in care", alongside the Toulon Baptiste Serin.
. Gailleton, Laclayat... A new UFO?
Fabien Galthié likes to repeat it, he loves "UFOs", these players with atypical courses that go off the beaten track. From Melvyn Jaminet, summoned while he was playing in Perpignan in Pro D2, to Thibaud Flament, the globe-trotting intellectual who has evolved in Argentina and England, many "UFOs" have made a place for themselves in Blue. The pillar Thomas Laclayat who walked on the Pro D2 with Oyonnax, could be the surprise of the World Cup in France. Called during the tour in Japan, he is regularly summoned for the gatherings in Marcoussis but is still waiting for a first selection.
Oyonnax stalwart Thomas Laclayat (C) advances ball in hand during the ProD2 final against FC Grenoble Rugby at the Stade Ernest-Wallon in Toulouse on May 27, 2023 © RAYMOND ROIG / AFP/Archives
One of Galthié's first UFOs, Anthony Bouthier, the professional mason, was also called for these three days.
Indisputable holder in the under-twenty, the center of Pau Emilien Gailleton -like the three-quarters of UBB Louis Bielle-Biarrey still in the race with his club in the championship of France - has not been summoned for the World Cup of the category to remain "at the disposal of the XV of France to prepare the major event of this end of the year, the 2023 World Cup," according to the FFR statement.
Union Bordeaux-Bègles three-quarters Louis Bielle-Biarrey (R) tackled by Stade Toulousain full-back Thomas Ramos during the Top 14 match at the Chaban-Delmas stadium in Bordeaux, September 4, 2022 © ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP/Archives
In addition to Gailleton and Laclayat, four novices will be present at the CNR: Bayonne third lines Baptiste Héguy and Pau Sacha Zegueur, Stade Français opener Léo Barré and Stade Français centre Julien Delbouis.
These players will not necessarily be part of the list of 33 players summoned for the World Cup-2023, announced on August 21, but they will already have a taste of the Blues if they were to return longer than during this mini-camp.
© 2023 AFP