Toulouse largest supplier of internationals, ahead of Bordeaux-Bègles
Fabien Galthié and Raphaël Ibanez, respectively coach and manager of the XV of France, unveiled on Monday the list of 42 players selected for the November tests against Argentina (November 6), Georgia (14) and the All Blacks (20 November). Logically, Stade Toulousain, reigning champion of France and Europe, is the biggest supplier of internationals (10), nearly a quarter of the French group. Next comes the Union Bordeaux-Bègles (6), runner-up to Toulouse in Top 14, then Lyon and Racing 92 (5 players). As agreed by the new agreement between the FFR and the LNR, twelve clubs, in all, have at least one international retained in the France team. Brive and Biarritz are the only two elite clubs not to have a selected player.
Distribution of 42 players by club:
Toulouse: 10
Bordeaux-Begles: 6
Lyon: 5
Race 92: 5
La Rochelle: 4
Castres: 3
Clermont: 2
Montpellier: 2
Toulon: 2
Pau: 1
Perpignan: 1
French stage: 1
The group of 42 players:
Pillar: Atonio (La Rochelle), Baille (Toulouse), Bamba (Lyon), Gros (Toulon), Hounkpatin (Castres), Paiva (UBB)
Hookers: Barlot (Castres), Marchand (Toulouse), Mauvaka (Toulouse)
Second-lines: Flament (Toulouse), Géraci (Lyon), Le Roux (Racing 92), R. Taoffifenua (Lyon), Vanverberghe (Castres), Verhaeghe (Montpellier), Willemse (Montpellier)
Third lines: Alldritt (La Rochelle), Cretin (Lyon), Cros (Toulouse), Diallo (Racing 92), Jelonch (Toulouse), Macalou (Stade Français), Woki (UBB)
Scrum Half: Couilloud (Lyon), Dupont (Toulouse), Lucu (UBB)
Opening half: Hastoy (Pau), Jalibert (UBB), Ntamack (Toulouse)
Centers: Danty (La Rochelle), Fickou (Racing 92), Moefana (UBB), Vakatawa (Racing 92), Vili (Clermont)
Wingers: Lebel (Toulouse), Penaud (Clermont), D. Taofifenua (Racing 92), Villière (Toulon)
Rear: Buros (UBB), Dulin (La Rochelle), Jaminet (Perpignan), Ramos (Toulouse)