France statement: Six released from Six Nations squad, Tuilagi called up

The French rugby federation have confirmed the names of the six players released from Fabien Galthie’s Guinness Six Nations squad for this weekend’s round of Top 14 fixtures – and revealed the five up-and-coming youngsters who will fill in for them at national team training.

Under the latest FFR agreement with the league, Les Bleus will be making some France squad players available to their clubs during the championship rather than keeping all of them off limits at the national team base in Marcoussis.

This deal has resulted in Toulon being able to select Esteban Abadie, Mathias Halagahu and Melvyn Jaminet for this Saturday’s game away to La Rochelle.

Joe Simmonds on Sam Whitelock at PAU

Joe Simmonds on Sam Whitelock at PAU

Castres’ Gaetan Barlot, Pau’s Emilien Gailleton and Toulouse’ Alexandre Roumat have also been released and their places in the France squad for the remainder of this week’s training have been taken by a quintet of youngsters, including Perpignan’s Tuilagi who last July starred in his country’s World Junior Championship U20s title win in South Africa.

A statement read: “As part of the agreement between the FFR and the LNR for the provision of players from professional clubs for the 2024 Six Nations tournament, six players from the XV de France have been made available to their club: ABADIE Esteban, BARLOT Gaëtan, GAILLETON Emilien, HALAGAHU Matthias, JAMINET Melvyn, ROUMAT Alexandre.

“Five players called up for Thursday: ATTISSOGBE Theo, BARRÉ Léo, BAUDONNE Maxime, NOUCHI Lenni, TUILAGI Posolo.”

France open their Six Nations campaign with a home match versus defending champions Ireland on February 2 in Marseille.