The French national team coaching staff have just unveiled a list of 38 players selected for an initial training camp ahead of the upcoming Six Nations Championship (11 April – 17 May). A deeply reshuffled and, above all, younger squad, marking the beginning of a new adventure.
With a new head coach, François Ratier, and new assistants, Gérald Bastide and Florent Wieczorek, the France Women’s XV is set to make a fresh start. And the first list announced by the three men only confirms that well-known political slogan that has gone down in history: change is now. Comprising 38 names, including that of Axelle Berthoumieu, supported by IDEC SPORT, this squad has been selected for the first preparation camp for the next Six Nations Championship, which will kick off in April. The camp will take place in Blagnac, on the outskirts of Toulouse, next week, from 9 to 12 February.
Only 18 “Survivors” from the World Cup in England
As head coach François Ratier explains in the federation’s statement, “The objective is clear: to observe as many profiles as possible, compare skills, and build, step by step, the most competitive team possible for the Tournament.” With 38 candidates, the coaching staff will have plenty to work with—especially as the squad has been deeply overhauled. Of the 38 selected players, only 18 are “survivors” from the group that contested the most recent World Cup in England. Above all, there are no fewer than 16 players with zero international caps. And if we widen the lens slightly, 20 players have fewer than 10 caps. In other words, the staff is starting almost from a blank page, launching a new cycle toward the Women’s World Cup in Australia in 2029.
Toulouse and Bordeaux Strongly Represented
At club level, the current leaders of the Elite 1 championship, Stade Toulousain, are the most represented with 12 players, closely followed by Stade Bordelais with 10 representatives. Building on the nationwide tour of clubs he has been conducting for weeks, head coach François Ratier has also called up players from lower-ranked teams, such as Lyon’s Chloé Jacquet, who is returning to the France squad, and hooker Tifen Lesieu, who plays for Toulon, a team promoted this year.
Finally, it should be noted that this camp will be followed by a second one, to be held from 24 to 27 March at the CNR in Marcoussis. This will again involve 38 players, “with the possibility of integrating other players, notably those who are injured and unavailable for the first camp,” as specified in the FFR statement. A list of 32 players selected to compete in the Tournament will be made official a few days later, on 30 March.
The complete list of players called up:
Forwards:
- Ylona Avril (Montpellier – 0 sélection)
- Makarita Baleinadogo (Stade bordelais – 1 sélection)
- Amalia Bazola Allieres (Toulouse – 0 sélection)
- Rose Bernadou (Montpellier – 28 sélections)
- Axelle Berthoumieu (Stade bordelais – 26 sélections)
- Cloe Correa (Toulouse – 0 sélection)
- Léa Champon (Grenoble – 15 sélections)
- Charlotte Escudero (Toulouse – 32 sélections)
- Isis Espuga (Toulouse – 0 sélection)
- Madoussou Fall Raclot (Stade bordelais – 45 sélections)
- Manae Feleu (Grenoble – 30 sélections)
- Assia Khalfaoui (ASM Romagnat – 37 sélections)
- Mathilde Lazarko (ASM Romagnat 0 sélection)
- Tifen Lesieu (Toulon – 0 sélection)
- Mailys Mailagi (Stade bordelais – 0 sélection)
- Taina Maka (Grenoble – 6 sélections)
- Ambre Mwayembe (Toulouse – 19 sélections)
- Elsa Peyras (Stade bordelais – 0 sélection)
- Elise Riffonneau (Grenoble – 20 sélections)
- Charlotte Rufas (Blagnac – 0 sélection)
- Sobehian Soqeta (Grenoble – 0 sélection)
- Eva Tougne (Toulouse – 0 sélection)
- Kiara Zago (Toulouse – 6 sélections)
Backs :
- Carla Arbez (Stade bordelais – 16 sélections)
- Pauline Barrat (Toulouse – 0 sélection)
- Emilie Boulard (Blagnac – 41 sélections)
- Pauline Bourdon-Sansus (Blagnac – 71 sélections)
- Morgane Bourgeois (Stade bordelais – 18 sélections)
- Anais Grando (ASM Romagnat – 0 sélection)
- Joanna Grisez (Stade bordelais – 13 sélections)
- Marie Ibanez (Stade bordelais – 0 sélection)
- Chloé Jacquet (Lou rugby – 22 sélections)
- Léa Murie (Toulouse – 6 sélections)
- Lylou Pedussaud (Toulouse – 0 sélection)
- Lina Queyroi (Toulouse – 27 sélections)
- Aubane Rousset (Stade bordelais – 0 sélection)
- Lina Tuy (ASM Romagnat – 12 sélections)
- Gabrielle Vernier (Blagnac – 58 sélections)
