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TOP 14

Stade Français boss Paul Gustard reacts to Six Nations snub

Jon Newcombe

Published: 136 days ago | 28 January 2026 01:59 PST

Stade Francais coach Paul Gustard (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Stade Français head coach Paul Gustard believes a couple of his players, in particular, can count themselves unfortunate not to be in France’s Guinness Six Nations squad.

The Parisian club have risen to third in the Top 14 table yet only have one representative in Fabien Galthié’s 42-man squad.

By contrast, Toulouse and Pau, the only two clubs above them in the standings, have 19 players between them.

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Following the withdrawal of Uini Atonio, whose career is now over following a heart attack, and his team-mate Paul Boudehent through injury, La Rochelle also only have one player involved, as do another powerhouse of the French club game, Clermont.

According to a report in Midi Olympique, Gustard, his team, and more specifically his players, are not getting the recognition they deserve.

“We’re the third-ranked team, but at the moment, only Noah Néné has been called up to the French national team,” he said.

“For me, that’s strange; we have a lot of good players. Léo Barré, Louis Carbonnel… For me, he’s perhaps the best fly-half in France.”

Uncapped centre Néné, 21, is in his third season of senior pro rugby and has scored seven tries in 16 appearances for his club.

Full-back Barré has won nine caps for France, the last on the 2025 summer tour to New Zealand, while Carbonel, a member of the triumphant France U20 side that dominated the Junior World Cup in 2018 and 2019, has been in the international wilderness since July 2021.

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Comments

3 Comments

SB 136 days ago

Good for him to support his players in the media and there are some who have done really well this season but for me they are behind better players.

I think Yoan Tanga has been very good, but the competition at number 8 is fierce and you can understand Matiu getting picked ahead of him.

Paul Gabrillagues has been magnificent as captain, but his last appearance for France was against Scotland in 2024 where he had a nightmare. So it’s unlikely he will be back.

Baptiste Pesenti is also doing well but Tom Staniforth is better in most categories statistically.

Carbonel has been very good, there is a strong argument for him over Seunes. Segonds can also feel unlucky to not be picked. But we are talking about the 3rd choice number 10 here, who will likely not see the field at all. Actually 4th, because Dupont will likely finish games in that position. With that slot being a training partner and the agreement of only 2 trips to Marcoussis, Segonds or Carbonel will likely be called in later in the tournament.

Barre has been good, but he had two nightmares in New Zealand last year so has gone down the pecking order a bit. Again, even if he was in the squad he would have Ramos, Buros, Attisogbe and perhaps even Bielle-Biarrey or Gourgues ahead of him so it’s not a major talking point.

The others in the team are most international players who are quality, then of course you have Nene who has been selected.

J Marc 136 days ago

Some top14 coaches mourn because Galthie pick not enough players and some others because he pick too many . Hard to satisfied everybody and his father…

SB 136 days ago

He has an extremely tough job, most people just complain regardless of what he does!

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