Six Nations

France call on Noa Nakaitaci

ESPN Staff

Noa Nakaitaci is in the France mix © Getty Images Enlarge

France have called up uncapped Clermont Auvergne winger Noa Nakaitaci for a pre-Six Nations training camp.

Fiji-born Nakaitaci, who featured for France against the Blues in 2013 and scored a brace of tries, has been named at the expense of Remy Grosso.

Philippe Saint-Andre said at his squad announcement on Thursday, according to the Le Figaro website: "He has become an undisputed first choice at (Clermont). He scores tries and makes differences. He has progressed enormously this season."

Nakaitaci told newspaper Le Monde in November he was committed to representing France, saying: "It's here that I've developed and learned a lot. It's here that rugby has become a real job for me. If I continue to play well every weekend, why not play at the World Cup. I don't think about Fiji."

Saint-Andre has also handed Toulouse No.8 Louis Picamoles a recall with Fulgence Ouedraogo excluded from the 31-man party. Racing Metro due Brice Dulin and Eddy Ben Arous, Stade Francais' Rabah Slimani and Bordeaux-Begles' Sofiane Guitoune are also named in the squad.

France training squad:

Forwards:

Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Eddy Ben Arous (Racing Metro), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Alexandre Menini (Toulon), Rabah Slimani (Stade Francais), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont Auvergne), Alexandra Flanquart (Stade Francais), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), Damien Chouly (Clermont Auvergne), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Bernard le Roux (Racing Metro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Charles Ollivon (Bayonne), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)

Backs:

Rory Kockott (Castres), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon), Camille Lopez (Clermont Auvergne), Remi Tales (Castres), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Alexandre Dumoulin (Racing Metro), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Remi Lamerat (Castres), Sofiane Guitoune (Bordeaux-Begles), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont Auvergne), Teddy Thomas (Racing Metro), Brice Dulin (Racing Metro), Scott Spedding (Bayonne)

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