Players released for weekend matches

Fabien Galthié and his staff released 19 players on Wednesday evening, as agreed between the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the National Rugby League (LNR). These players are returning to their respective clubs to participate in the 8th round of the Top 14, which begins this weekend.

Key players among those released

Among the released players are Grégory Alldritt, Damian Penaud, and Anthony Jelonch—three former key figures under Galthié’s leadership. Tevita Tatafu and Nicolas Depoortere, who had recently performed well, were also released despite being considered for the upcoming match against Fiji.

Protected players remain for Fiji match

Several players who are expected to start in the 4th round of the Nations Championship remain at Marcoussis. This includes a new back row featuring Paul Boudehent, Cameron Woki, and François Cros. Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey are also staying to prepare for the match against Fiji on November 7.

Potential changes in player list

A new list of 42 players is expected on Sunday after the 8th round of the Top 14. Some players who were not called up this week, such as Régis Montagne and Florian Verhaeghe, could be included if they are fit. This could alter the team composition seen during Wednesday’s training session.

Confirmed players for upcoming match

The list of 23 players retained includes key figures like Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, among others. The probable starting XV against Fiji features players such as Théo Attissogbé, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, and Sipili Falatea, forming a balanced team for the upcoming challenge.