France head coach Phillipe Saint-André has announced that he and other members of the French rugby heirachy have identified ten foreigners they would like to play for the French team in the near future.
The list of ten players, all of whom ply their trade in the Top 14, includes current European Player of the Year Steffon Armitage, who has been capped by England on five occasions, and South African Rory Kockott.
The Rugby Blog
They are part of an extended group of 74 who being monitored by the French coaches for future selection.
“Eventually they will declare their love for France. But I can tell you that the ten players are very much in love with France,” said Saint-André at a press conference.
Serge Blanco, the newly-appointed FFR vice-president, is on the committee in charge of monitoring the players, along with Jean-Claude Skrela, Didier Retière, Philippe Agostini and Gérald Bastide.
“The goal is not to police Philippe and his assistants,” said Blanco.
“I’m not here to pick the French team, to choose the players, I’m here to bring a vision, a little oil to some cogs for this team to reach it’s full capability.”
France 30-man squad: Mas, Slimani, Kayser, Szarzewski, Guirado, Domingo, Debaty, Flanquart, Maestri, Papé, Vahaamahina, Dusautoir, Burban, Le Roux, Nyanga, Ouedraogo, Chouly, Claassen, Picamoles, Machenaud, Parra, Michalak, Tales, Trinh-Duc, Médard, Huget, Bastareaud, Fofana, Lamerat, Dulin.
30 Additional players: Ducalcon, Tolofua, Orioli, Ben Arous, Chiocci, Menini, Tichit, Le Devedec, Suta, R. Taofifenua, Bruni, Camara, Lapandry, Lauret, Galan, Ollivon, Doussain, Pélissié, Tillous-Borde, Lopez, Plisson, Fall, Guitoune, Thomas, Fickou, Fritz, Mermoz, Buttin, Germain, Palis.
The 10 potentially selectable foreigners: Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), François van der Merwe (Racing Métro), Steffon Armitage (Toulon), Alex Tulou (Montpellier), Rory Kockott (Castres), Brock James (Clermont), Blair Connor (Bordeaux Bègles), Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont), David Smith (Toulon), Scott Spedding (Brive).
Four injured players: Andreu, H.Bonneval, Forestier, Lassalle.