NEW FRANCE COACH Guy Novès has named Fiji-born sevens specialist Virimi Vakatawa in his 31-man training squad for the Six Nations.
23-year-old Vakatawa previously played with Racing 92 in the Top 14 from 2011 until 2013, before signing a sevens deal with the FFR. The flying wing has since gone on to become one of the leading sevens players in the world.
Novès has now invited the 6’1″ wide man back into the 15-man code ahead of the Six Nations, as France look to add cutting edge out wide. It is believed that Vakatawa will also pen a club contract in union for next season, with the likes of Toulon and Racing chasing his signature.
The 31-man France training squad – which will convene at Marcoussis from 25 January until 27 January for a pre-Six Nations training camp – also includes the uncapped Yacouba Camara, Camille Chat, Kevin Gourdon, Paul Jedrasiak, Jefferson Poirot, Sébastien Bezy and Jonathan Danty.
Having been omitted from the two recent training weekends under Novès, Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud is perhaps the highest-profile player to miss out.
The former Toulouse boss has also left François Trinh-Duc out of the training group, the Montpellier man not having played since November due to a tibia injury, with Jean-Marc Doussain selected as a second out-half alongside Stade Français playmaker Jules Plisson.
The likes of barrelling Stade Français centre Danty [23], clever Toulouse scrum-half Bezy [24], mobile Clermont lock Jedrasiak [22] and dynamic Toulouse back row Camara [21] will all back themselves to make an impact on the Six Nations, as Novès looks to usher in a new era of French rugby.
31-man France Six Nations training squad:
Props: Uini Atonio, Rabah Slimani, Jefferson Poirot, Eddy Ben Arous
Hookers: Guilhem Guirado (captain), Camille Chat,
Locks: Sébastien Vahaamahina, Paul Jedrasiak, Yoann Maestri, Alexandre Flanquart,
Back rows: Antoine Burban, Yacouba Camara, Damien Chouly, Wenceslas Lauret, Louis Picamoles, Kevin Gourdon
Halfbacks: Morgan Parra, Sébastien Bezy, Maxime Machenaud, Jean-Marc Doussain, Jules Plisson
Centres: Jonathan Danty, Alexandre Dumoulin, Rémi Lamerat, Gaël Fickou, Wesley Fofana [may play on the wing]
Back threes: Scott Spedding, Hugo Bonneval, Virimi Vakatawa, Maxime Médard, Benjamin Fall.
Just wish those fcuking parasites in the media would leave the man alone and stop stalking him on the streets hoping he will make a fool of himself. He clearly has problems and doesn’t need that
Yes, and leave the poor wife basher alone.
55 wife basher supporters
If he had smoked a joint he’d have been hugging people.
If he had been playing for Tyrone on Saturday he would have got man of the match
This man and his hasbien family should be locked in a zoo like cage and pellted with fruit.
Pauljohnson, you do realize that “hasbien” is urban slang for a woman who used to be a lesbian but has now gone straight http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Hasbien&defid=1916673. You should be locked up in a classroom and pelted (not pellted) with spelling tests and lessons in compassion for someone who is suffering from a chronic disease.
spot on brian.
jeez people like Johnson and their families must be perfect.
Considering that everyone in Ireland would know or know of an alcoholic a bit of empathy wouldn’t go astray.
Brian he’s only a troll , see him pop up on the football stories all the time when his mother is out …
I do genuinely feel for him, but there comes a point when you have to ask yourself, how much help does he need, and for how long can it continue?
His friends and family have been extraordinary over the years, with giving him a home, food, sending him to rehab, sure they didn’t even disown him after the incident with Raul Moat and the fishing rod!
Unbelievable footballer, it’s just a shame he didn’t have the right people around him in his hey day. Too many leeches who bought into his success, fuelled by the media in their relentless search for a story, and coupled by his own inability to take control on his circumstances have led to his plight.
I do hope he gets better, but I’ve lost count how times I’ve said that over the years.
Somebody who is as mad as a bag of cats really shouldn’t be drinking
I blame the government….no wait…Johnny Five Bellies…
It’s Jimmy. Jimmy five bellies. Don’t you forget it
Whoops…was thinking of his brother!
He is as mad as a bag of cats because of his drinking.
Dreadfully sad to watch a life fall apart from his addiction whilst the world mocks him..
Such a waste of talent.
A
@ chris
He never wasted his talent he was a great footballer
He was a great footballer but because of drink he ended up playing for rangers rather than real, united or Milan
Also could have been a real good coach so I’d consider him a waste of talent.
@ chris
How do you know he could of been a real good coach ?
Such a waste!
Because he had ability to see more than most on the pitch and maybe he could have transfer that to younger players
Alcohol a demon . Very easily abused just like anything I suppose
Even Rice Krispies?
Fair enough the man has problems, but the fact is he assaulted someone! If you witnessed a drunk nobody on O’Connell St, assault someone, would your first thought be “ah the poor guy has troubles” ? Alcoholism is a terrible thing and I seen what it can do to people, but people excusing behaviour like assault because of it does not help anyone.
never a dull moment with Gazza.
They should lock that eijit up
Dublinlad! Your his best friend are you? How much time have you spent in his company over the years?????? Or do you as I suspect , know absolutely nothing about him!!
Unlike most, his personal life has been played out in the media from when he first emerged on the scene. I know as much as Joe Public, but if you know more, please, enlighten me.
Who cares about Gazza, Jesus. Bar stool nation!
England – the only country that glorifies going on the piss and look at where this lot has ended up; Gascoigne, Merson, Sansom, Adams… and those are just the high profile ones.
Every other country enjoys a tipple but they are realistic enough to realise it’s not glamorous to make an ass out of yourself every day and end up living on a park bench (Sansom) and spitting teeth out on live television (Merson).
One of the best players around in the 90s without doubt!
I still today watch Gazza on YouTube what a footballer incredible,exciting and a thinking footballer.
It’s sad how his troubles and problems have out shone his football skills but that’s reality, it is what it is.
Hopefully one day he will conquer his demons and be at peace with himself.
How many of us had the Gazza crop haircut back in the day lol
Blame Danny Baker and that that ginger but Chris Evans who where his buddies once and persuaded him to move to London and join Spurs instead of going to Utd which he had agreed to join , saying that Manchester was boring and no nightlife ..
The fishing rod mmm!