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France team to face Ireland in Women's Six Nations opener

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 30: Seraphine Okemba #1 of Team France scores her team's first try during the Women's Rugby Sevens Women's Placing 5-8 match between Team France and Team Ireland on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Gaelle Mignot and David Ortiz have named their side to face Ireland in the first round of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations on 22 March.

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The team will be led by co-captains Manae Feleu, who starts in the second row (alongside Madoussou Fall-Raclot), and Marine Menager, who is named on the left wing.

From their last outing against New Zealand in WXV 1 in October 2024, Agathe Sochat and Yllana Brosseau retain their positions at hooker and loosehead prop respectively and will be joined in the front row by Rose Bernadou. The tighthead was a replacement in their last match but is named to start against Ireland with Assia Khalfaoui unavailable due to a knee injury.

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‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

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‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

Seraphine Okemba and Lea Champon will make their first Six Nations appearances, the latter starting on the bench and sevens star Okemba, who switched to XVs during WXV,  is named to start at openside flanker alongside Charlotte Escudero and Teani Feleu in the back row.

Carla Arbez will make her first appearance for France since November 2023 and will start at fly-half alongside the most-capped player in the current squad, scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus (61 caps).

The centre partnership of Gabrielle Vernier and Nassira Konde remains the same as their three WXV matches last year.

Morgane Bourgeois, who missed WXV, will start at full-back, and the right wing will be occupied by Mélissande Llorems Vignères.

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France won just one match at WXV, against the USA, which saw them finish second from last in Vancouver. Les Bleues last won the Women’s Six Nations title in 2018 and will be eager to replicate the victory of their men’s team in the Men’s Six Nations.

Fixture
Womens Six Nations
Ireland Women
15 - 27
Full-time
France Women
All Stats and Data

France team vs Ireland, Kingspan Stadium, 22 March

15. Morgane Bourgeois (Stade Bordelais)

14. Melissande Llorems Vignères (Blagnac RF)

13. Nassira Konde (Stade Bordelais)

12. Gabrielle Vernier (Blagnac RF)

11. Marine Menager (Montpellier HR) CC

10. Carla Arbez (Stade Bordelais)

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9. Pauline Bourdon-Sansus (Stade Toulousain)

1. Yllana Brosseau (Stade Bordelais)

2. Agathe Sochat (Stade Bordelais)

3. Rose Bernadou (Montpellier HR)

4. Manae Feleu (FC Grenoble Amazones) CC

5. Madoussou Fall-Raclot (Stade Bordelais)

6. Charlotte Escudero (Stade Toulousain)

7. Seraphine Okemba (LOU Rugby)

8. Teani Feleu (FC Grenoble Amazones)

Replacements

16. Manon Bigot (Blagnac RF)

17. Ambre Mwayembe (FC Grenoble Amazones)

18. Clara Joyeux (Blagnac RF)

19. Axelle Berthoumieu (Blagnac RF)

20. Lea Champon (FC Grenoble Amazones)

21. Alexandra Chambon (FC Grenoble Amazones)

22. Lina Queyroi (Stade Toulousain)

23. Emilie Boulard (Blagnac RF)

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SK 30 minutes ago
South African rugby's top heavy house of cards

I think everyone knows that the SA teams are prioritising the URC which is why they have been so bad in Europe. The champions cup group stage fixtures couldnt come at a worse time for SA franchises. They come hot on the heels of the Autumn internationals and in December and Jan when its coldest in Europe and as hot as it gets in SA. During this period SA franchises have to leap from Africa to Europe one week after the next. SA franchises sometimes have to hop from Europe back to Africa and then back to Europe in 3 to 4 weeks. Mandatory Springbok rest periods are opted into by franchises to keep the players fit as the Springbok players cannot play year-round and injuries take their toll. Fatigue also sets in for players who have played non-stop since March as there is no global calendar. They don’t get a chance to regroup again until the six nations. SA teams prioritise what’s in front of them. The Springboks are top heavy and SA franchises are in Transition between the new and older generation. There are lots of youngsters coming through but they need more time at the top level. Coaching is also in transition in SA Rugby with many coaches at a young age. The age group levels SA has underperformed but the talent is there. Its coming through at franchise level and these players are getting great experience playing in a variety of comps. I would hardly call it a house of cards though. Succession planning has already become a reality. At Prop the Springboks are already replacing the seniors, at Scrum Half the Springboks are building depth and at 10 they have loads of options now and at 4 and 5 the Boks have used a host of players in recent years. Rassie has a plan for 2027 and the best coaching staff at international level. He has some difficult questions in front of him when it comes to the squad but is finding answers at the moment. Yes its possible Springbok performances could dip this year and perhaps in 2026 however I would not bet against them continuing to dominate while in transition. There were similar doubts cast about them last year and they proved the doubters wrong.

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