France step up WXV Global Series preparations with forwards clinic

François Ratier will host a four-day front-five forward training camp as France’s preparations for the WXV Global Series continue.

In September and October, Les Bleues will play New Zealand’s Black Ferns four times, along with one-off clashes against Canada and Australia on home soil.

The 24-player group selected includes a large number of capped players and a number of youngsters that Ratier and his coaching staff believe could have the talent to earn Test match honours.

This includes Stade Rochelais’ prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi, who is the second cousin of the All Blacks prop of the same name, after she helped her club back to the French top-flight last season.

Over four days in Capbreton, the group will largely concentrate on fine-tuning their set-piece ahead of their scrum, lineout and maul being stressed across the international season.

Starting on Thursday 20 August, the tight forwards will gather at the same time as the In Extenso Supersevens competition, which will see a number of senior France internationals compete against one another.

Gloucester Hartpury-bound Gabrielle Vernier will be in action, as will Grenoble centre Teani Feleu and Olympic silver medallist Chloé Jacquet.

“This camp marks the start of a particularly intense international season, with eleven matches on the schedule: six in the WXV Global Series and five in the Six Nations Championship,” Ratier said.

“While our ‘front five’ players focus on position-specific work in Capbreton, we will also be closely following our internationals competing in the In Extenso Supersevens in Biarritz that same weekend.

“Finally, this gathering will be an opportunity to build bonds and foster knowledge transfer between the France team’s senior players and the young talent coming up through the pathway.”

Florent Wieczorek, France’s forwards coach, said: “This is a first for us – organising a camp dedicated to the front-five, designed to let us fine-tune the details of our set-piece play.

“Bringing together senior internationals with the U20 and U18 squads allows us to forge rugby and personal connections across age groups. It supports our medium-term work on these positions while simultaneously laying the groundwork for our WXV preparations.”

Players selected for camp

Makarita Baleinadogo (Stade Bordelais)
Candice Barret (Stade Toulousain)
Amalia Bazola Allieres (Stade Toulousain)
Samantha Benavides (RC Toulon PM)
Rose Bernadou (Montpellier RC)
Yllana Brosseau (Stade Bordelais)
Cloé Correa (Stade Toulousain)
Anna Daniel (Montpellier RC)
Annaëlle Deshaye (Stade Bordelais)
Charlotte Escudero (Stade Toulousain)
Madoussou Fall Raclot (Stade Bordelais)
Elina Folituu (Stade Toulousain)
Julia Grosz (Blagnac RF)
Hina Ikahehegi (Stade Bordelais)
Marine Kazmierczak (Stade Rochelais)
Assia Khalfaoui (Stade Bordelais)
Mathilde Lazarko (ASM Romagnat)
Maïlys Mailagi (Stade Bordelais)
Ambre Mwayembe (Stade Toulousain)
Elisa Riffonneau (FC Grenoble Amazones)
Siobhan Soqeta (FC Grenoble Amazones)
Malia Taofifenua (Stade Toulousain)
Oihana Tome Belmonte (Stade Bordelais)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Stade Rochelais)