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Six Nations

France star withdrawn from squad ahead of Wales trip

Matthieu Jalibert of France runs with the ball with Kalvin Gourgues in support during the Guinness Six Nations 2026 match between France and Ireland at Stade de France on February 05, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Centre Kalvin Gourgues has been redrawn from the France squad by Fabien Galthie, who has confirmed a 42-man training group for their Six Nations Round Two trip to Wales.

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The rising star of French rugby suffered an ankle injury late in the match against Ireland and is replaced in the squad by Emilien Gailleton.

It’s a blow for the 20-year-old Toulouse centre, who many view as the future of the French midfield. Gourgues required major surgery last year, with doctors replacing an artery in his foot using one taken from his thigh to treat a blood-clotting issue that had put him at risk of amputation.

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There is also a return for Paul Boudehent and Thibaud Flament, both of whom are back in the squad to prepare for Wales.

Galthie has again opted against recalling France record try-scorer Damian Penaud and former captain Gregory Alldritt. Nor is there any sign of veteran centre Gael Fickou, despite the injury to Gourgues.

All three were surprise omissions from the initial Six Nations squad, many putting the decision down to the famously unpredictable Galthie.

Other than that, the selection is largely stable following last week’s win over Ireland.

Forwards
Dorian Aldegheri
Hugo Auradou
Cyril Baille
Paul Boudehent
Joshua Brennan
Georges-Henri Colombe
François Cros
Alexandre Fischer
Thibaud Flament
Jean-Baptiste Gros
Mickaël Guillard
Oscar Jegou
Anthony Jelonch
Maxime Lamothe
Julien Marchand
Temo Matiui
Peato Mauvaka
Emmanuel Meafou
Régis Montagne
Rodrigue Neti
Lenni Nouchi
Charles Ollivon
Thomas Staniforth
Tevita Tatafu

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Backs
Grégoire Arfeuil
Théo Attissogbe
Louis Bielle-Biarrey
Fabien Brau-Boirie
Romain Buros
Thibault Daubagna
Nicolas Depoortere
Axel Desperes
Gaël Dréan
Antoine Dupont
Émilien Gailleton
Aaron Grandidier Nkanang
Matthieu Jalibert
Yoram Moefana
Noah Nene
Thomas Ramos
Baptiste Serin
Cheikh Tiberghien

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Comments

2 Comments
J
JPM 1 hr ago

“Unpredictable Galthié” as you call him was totally right in his decision to make this type of choice: far better defense, far better management of contestable kicking, Guillard outshining Alldritt…Perhaps conservative coaches like Farrell or Robertson before should be less predictable…

J
J Marc 52 mins ago

And “ France star” Kalvin Gourgues has played only 60 minutes in two games ….

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Comments on RugbyPass

D
DO 7 minutes ago
Finger of blame pointed at South African in Ireland loss to France

Jesus Nienaber isn’t even the Leinster coach. This is so pathetic. Cullen is the Leinster head coach. Irelands attack is bad so you blame the Leinster Defence coach…that makes sense. Couldn’t be because you’re trying to play with the same team you’ve had for 8 years and barely had a new player come through…couldn’t be a depth issue? No never.

47 Go to comments
J
JW 7 minutes ago
New law innovations will have unexpected impacts on Super Rugby Pacific

It will be interesting to see how the rucks adjust as the season goes on, to be fair it will be hard to tell as you might have only got half a dozen caterpillars in a normal Super game anyway? I was actually looking forward (statistically speaking) to seeing teams trying to adopt the tactic more (and I don’t mind the lotteryness madhater results of a kick too much) after the success it proved when used in Internationals. Now were unlikely to really see it. I had another thought while watching some of the footy along these lines too, how ref interpretations normally change through the season (they got more lenient of a few of last years changes as the season went on), after Nickers said that they shouldn’t be holding preseason games on hard grounds in Feb, that what if we purposefully introduced law interpretations progressively through the season, if outright law changes, so that the start is very fast and open, mimicking pre season, building towards more of a contest and collisions (where errors start to get expected), and then when its wet possibly it can favor scrums and defense again? Or you go the other way, towards the end of the season why a structure Crusaders has reigned king you introduce laws to keeping attacking in favor?

Bonus is they’d become adept at adapting, and come July or Internationals, will be better because dealing with them has become a real skill?



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19 Go to comments
J
JW 9 minutes ago
New law innovations will have unexpected impacts on Super Rugby Pacific

Oh right, I had just read that the changes had to be in before July, but yes if they did make late changes they probably wouldn’t make it in for those tests rights.

These changes are often at the request of WR (SR has always been a test case thanks to its short length right), I wonder which of these might WR most be interested in? 50/22 would be a certain one I reckon.



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P
PMcD 25 minutes ago
12-year wait ended as major World Ranking change lands

I think IRE have had two cycles, the first very much built on a domestic game, the second with the addition of transplants, helping fill out the team.

Covid hurt the recruitment process and then the eligibility rules have suddenly changed, just as your old team all started to age and there are no longer any quick fixes.



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a
aO 30 minutes ago
France blow Ireland away to start Six Nations title defence in style

Agree Eric and I won't be throwing in the towel. I'm a loyal supporter what comes around etc. But sport is like this. I think being first out the gate to play the French was unfortunate especially in those conditions etc. We'll have to bounce back and come up with other plays.

Good to see Italy play well also.



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96 Go to comments
B
BC 38 minutes ago
Gregor Townsend faces the press after latest Scotland damp squib

Totally agree. Townsend has achieved nothing in 9 years. When he took over we were ranked 5 in the world, now we are 10. Yesterday’s game against Italy was diabolical - nothing worked. Lineout was atrocious and we were even beaten in the scrum. This is Italy, not the Boks!!! He has clearly lost the dressing room. Most of these players would walk through fire for Franco Smith, but not for Townsend. He needs to go now and go full time with his ‘other job’ at Newcastle. 9 years of failure with the best crop of Scotland players in 30 years. Pitiful!

5 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 48 minutes ago
How new-look France trumped same old Ireland in Six Nations opener

France, SA and I am sure England use a professional ref to advice the coaches but also coach the captains in how to deal with laws and referees. Picture Etzebeth with hands passively behind back communicating with Hollie Davison. That’s Peyper. If Ireland can’t afford it there are other cheaper ways. Just teach and train him to do it. See George yesterday asking the ref for a big team huddle to tell them that they were on a warning. Broke Wales rythm (and annoyed them no end).

But we need leaders who can affect play on the hoof. I don’t know how clubs do it but surely these skills win matches. How does a team problem solve, communicate, adapt assertively during matchplay? That arguable got England to a final in 2007.



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316 Go to comments
J
J Marc 52 minutes ago
France star withdrawn from squad ahead of Wales trip

And “ France star” Kalvin Gourgues has played only 60 minutes in two games ….

2 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
France blow Ireland away to start Six Nations title defence in style

A lot of the reviews to the TMO are often instigated by the ref seeing something on the big screen. Beirne won 3 turnovers. Ireland were outclassed. As an Irish supporter I won’t be throwing in the towel just yet.

96 Go to comments
G
GRB13 1 hour ago
12-year wait ended as major World Ranking change lands

Not bloody likely! You don’t get many points from beating the teams below you. Beating France at home might be enough to overhaul the All Blacks but it won’t get you near the Springboks!

15 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
Ireland player ratings vs France | 2026 Guinness Men's Six Nations

We will see. Not that it affected the result but the TV editor did not show replays that might disadvantage France. Throw in for France pre Try2, Duponts knock on at base of scrum for same try and forward pass in run up to try 1.

On top of that Ireland lost 15/19 contestables. What was different was they could turn up the heat to a level Ireland couldn’t tolerate. Haven’t seen that for a long time.



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E
Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
Finger of blame pointed at South African in Ireland loss to France

Are you thin skinned, stupid or something else. If Leinster plays identically to Ireland then all those Leinster training sessions benefit Ireland because they are building cohesion. Ireland do implement their own tactics and gameplan but this now very different from Leinster’s so previous cohesion benefits are lost.

This is not a slight on your fellow country man Jacques Nienaber. SO YOU SEE THIS?



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47 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
12-year wait ended as major World Ranking change lands

We have had ups and downs since professionalism it is cyclical but to pretend our status in the 1990s will be rock bottom of the current cycle is wishful thinking perhaps! The cycles are not quarter of a century cycles!!

At least 3 clubs will be top 8 this year, 2 in the top 4 of URC possibly. Now Ireland needs a little luck to fill out a full team with world class players but the bottom is still a high enough standard.



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15 Go to comments
B
Blackmania 1 hour ago
Ruben Love on 10 switch: 'I don't need to reinvent the wheel'

For me, Will Jordan isn’t a nailed-on starter. I know that’s a minority view right now, but we’ll revisit it in a few months’ time. At international level, if you can’t deal with the high ball, that’s a real issue. And he’s not as quick as people think — electric over 30 metres, yes, but not over 50. Caleb Tangitau will start for the All Blacks, on the wing with Caleb Clarke. You’ll see.

Jordan will be just another option — like Narawa or JRK — but nothing more than that.



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13 Go to comments
d
d 1 hour ago
Ruben Love on 10 switch: 'I don't need to reinvent the wheel'

Agree. He has potential, but I thought Godfrey was a more composed #10 for the Canes than Love, although I love(!) his tactical kicking game. Deserves a chance, but I suspect he’s a better fb.

13 Go to comments
d
d 1 hour ago
Ruben Love on 10 switch: 'I don't need to reinvent the wheel'

My heart wants to keep Jordie in the side even when I wonder if he’s even fast and agile enough to be a complete fb. He makes the decision more difficult by managing to do Jordie things, like header try assists, and match-winning arms under balls in RWC matches!

I’d still rather see him at fb than WJ, who despite the Cru’s insistences has still proved a better wing than fb.



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13 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
12-year wait ended as major World Ranking change lands

The draw is key. Assuming pools finishing with rankings, IF South Africa get past NZ then they will face a France team who have been lining them up. Will SA be strong enough to beat NZ then France then potentially England on consecutive weeks?

There are not many RWCs since the millenium where the team on the harder side of the draw has won. 2023 potentially but then NZ had a red card in the final. Otherwise…



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15 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
Germany down Rugby World Cup regulars to pull off shock REC win

Well done Germany! Absolutely disastrous result for Romanian rugby. They have previously beaten France and pushed NZ to a narrow 14-8 win. Left to wither by the rest of the rugby world in thrall to world cup glory after 1987.

1 Go to comments
J
JPM 1 hour ago
France star withdrawn from squad ahead of Wales trip

“Unpredictable Galthié” as you call him was totally right in his decision to make this type of choice: far better defense, far better management of contestable kicking, Guillard outshining Alldritt…Perhaps conservative coaches like Farrell or Robertson before should be less predictable…

2 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
'This Irish team are on the ropes and everyone is coming after them'

Let’s be clear. The headline you fell for was click bait. It is true that Leinster playing the same style of rugby was an advantage to Ireland for obvious reasons. That advantage was lost when Leinster played a different style to Ireland. That does not mean that Nienaber is a bad coach: his brief was to being Leinster trophies and not to play in a compatible style with Ireland. Is that clear enough for you?

3 Go to comments
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