France head coach Fabien Galthie said on Tuesday the return of captain Antoine Dupont brings an "aura" to the team before they embark on this year's Six Nations. "It's quite a magical competition," former France captain Galthie said.

Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou were both included in France's matchday squad on Wednesday to face Wales in the first game of the Six Nations tournament next week. Last month an Argentine court dropped aggravated sexual assault charges against the 21-year-old rugby players.

France face their trickier biennial Six Nations itinerary in oddly numbered years, with England in Twickenham and Ireland in the Aviva Stadium. Of their six titles since the expansion to the Six Nations, France have won only one championship in odd years.

Toulouse back-row Anthony Jelonch has withdrawn from the France squad with less than two weeks to go until they get

Captain Antoine Dupont says he is "happy to be back" as France seek to deny Ireland an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title.

France head coach Fabien Galthie said on Tuesday the return of captain Antoine Dupont brings an "aura" to the team before they embark on this year's Six Nations.

Dupont is one of 13 Toulouse players included in Fabien Galthie’s 42-man France squad for the Six Nations, which begin on Dec 31. Read more at straitstimes.com.

French rugby union chiefs on Wednesday named the players accused of raping a 39-year-old woman in Argentina during the summer tour of South America in the 42-man squad for the 2025 Six Nations tournament.

Galthie has been forced into springing some selection surprises owing to the absence of a raft of experienced players such as Gael Fickou, Charles Ollivon and Reda Wardi.

Paris (AFP) – France coach Fabien Galthie said Monday that two players who were investigated for rape in Argentina before the case was dismissed can now be selected for the upcoming Six Nations.

France captain Antoine Dupont said Toulouse's thrashing of Leicester in the Champions Cup was the perfect warm-up for the Six Nations.

Ahead of the opening match of the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations, Fabien Galthié has revealed for the first time the secrets of his French squad selections.