Antoine Dupont will return to captain defending champions France for Thursday evening’s Six Nations curtain-raiser against Ireland in Paris.
The Toulouse scrum-half has not played at international level since rupturing the ACL in his right knee during Les Bleus’ 42-27 win in Dublin last February.
Head coach Fabien Galthie raised some eyebrows by leaving centre Gael Fickou and wing Damian Penaud out of his squad for the championship but has named a formidable backline.
In the absence of injured fly-half Romain Ntamack, Matthieu Jalibert will partner Dupont, while Louis Bielle-Biarrey – last year’s player of the tournament after scoring eight tries – starts on the left wing.
Yoram Moefana is joined by Nicolas Depoortere in midfield, with Theo Attissogbe on the right wing and Thomas Ramos at full-back.
Galthie also overlooked former captain Gregory Alldritt for his squad before veteran prop Uini Atonio was forced to retire due to a heart problem.
Anthony Jelonch takes Alldritt’s place at number eight, between flankers Francois Cros and Oscar Jegou.
Props Jean-Baptiste Gros and Dorian Aldegheri pack down with hooker Julian Marchand in the front row, ahead of locks Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard.
Galthie told a press conference: “Antoine Dupont gives us more, that is for sure.
“That also places demands on the rest of the team, to raise our work rate in order to meet the ambition he has and that is why he is our captain.
“It means more work for the players around him. There is more commitment demanded of the players so they can follow their captain and he will impose that on the team.
“He will also make his impact strategically and in terms of the intensity he brings to the pressure on the opponent. He brings total commitment and in what he requires of his team-mates.”
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 3, 2026
France team to face Ireland in Six Nations
Forwards: 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 4 Charles Ollivon, 5 Mickaël Guillard, 6 François Cros, 7 Oscar Jegou, 8 Anthony Jelonch
Backs: 9 Antoine Dupont (Captain), 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 14 Théo Attissogbe, 15 Thomas Ramos
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Régis Montagne, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Lenni Nouchi, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Kalvin Gourgues