Brice Dulin scored the first try against England -

Rogan / JMP / Shutterstock / SIPA

Three blues in Blue: the pillar Georges-Henri Colombe, the winger Donovan Taofifenua and the center Julien Delbouis join the captain Charles Ollivon or the star Antoine Dupont in the list of 37 players summoned by the coach of the XV of France Fabien Galthié to prepare the 2021 Six Nations Tournament.

Four Twickenham reservists summoned

A little over a month after the heroic defeat of the French “reservists” against England (22-19 AD) in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup, the Blues are therefore back.

And some of these “without ranks” have won their place in the so-called “premium” group, starting with the back Brice Dulin, named best player of the short-lived competition of the fall.

At 30 years old and 31 caps, he would almost look like a former if he did not have only two selections under Fabien Galthié, his first since 2017.

But his performances against Italy and then England earned him a call to Marcoussis.

Other survivors of the XV of France rejuvenated at Twickenham, the second line Baptiste Pesenti (Pau), the winger Gabin Villière (Toulon), the third line Anthony Jelonch (Castres) were also recalled.

🏆 Beginning of a new chapter!



Here is the group of 37 players summoned for the 2021 @SixNationsRugby Tournament!



📅 The Tricolores will meet on January 24 to prepare for the first match against Italy - @Federugby on February 6! #NeFaisonsXV #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/KTzov7LRuj

- France Rugby (@FranceRugby) January 11, 2021

The surprise of Racing Donovan Taofifenua.

At 21, the winger has been walking on the water since the start of the season with six tries in nine Top 14 games and two in as many European Cup games.

Already summoned in the fall without ever playing, he will have to find a place in the sun between the returning Damian Penaud (Clermont) and the experienced Teddy Thomas (Racing 92).

Injured to the jaw, Toulouse opener Romain Ntamack is also absent.

In his place, Matthieu Jalibert and Louis Carbonel will compete for the starting place.

The frames installed at the front

For the rest, the staff of the Blues will find known faces, starting with the third row of Toulon Charles Ollivon, who had a time yielded - constrained and forced by the limitation of the match sheets - the captaincy to Baptiste Serin then Baptiste Couilloud .

The indispensable Paul Willemse and Bernard Le Roux, in the second row, are also in the game.

Just like the precious Grégory Aldritt (La Rochelle) or the Swiss army knife of the French stadium Gaël Fickou.

On the front row, no big surprises: Julien Marchand (Toulouse) and Camille Chat (Racing 92) will compete for the place of titular hooker while Jean-Baptiste Gros, Pierre Bourgarit, Mohamed Haouas and Cyril Baille are installed on the front row.

The novelty comes from the colossus Georges-Henri Colombe (Racing 92), third neophyte summoned.

After a preparation course in Nice (February 25-February 5), like last year, the XV of France will finally find the grounds in Rome, against Italy.

Provided, however, that sanitary conditions allow it.

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  • Fabien Galthie

  • XV of France

  • Sport

  • Rugby