France
Uncapped Plisson named in France squad
ESPN Staff
January 6, 2014
France's coach Philippe Saint-Andre announces the squad for the upcoming Six Nations © Getty Images
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Philippe Saint-Andre has named four uncapped players in his 30-man training squad ahead of the Six Nations, which begins next month.

Three of the uncapped quartet are from Stade Francais - promising fly-half Jules Plisson, full-back Hugo Bonneval and flanker Antoine Burban. They are joined by Castres full-back Geoffrey Palis.

Plisson's call-up is a big statement of faith in the youngster from Saint-Andre, who has turned to the 22-year-old over Francois Trinh-Duc and Frederic Michalak, whose limited playing time at Toulon this season has counted against him. France have some key injury concerns, with notable absentees including Morgan Parra, Vincent Clerc, Florian Fritz and Camille Lopez.

France will kick off their Six Nations campaign against England at Stade de France on February 1, hoping to bounce back from the 2013 tournament which saw them collect the wooden spoon for the first time since 1999. After a three-day training camp on the French south coast the squad will be trimmed to 23 players on January 22 before the squad heads to Paris in preparation for their match against Stuart Lancaster's side the following week.

Forwards: Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Métro), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Français), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Français), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Papé (Stade Français), Sébastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, cap), Bernard Le Roux (Racing-Métro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)

Backs: Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse), Maxime Machenaud (Racing-Métro), Jules Plisson (Stade Français), Rémi Talès (Castres), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Gaël Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Sofiane Guitoune (Perpignan), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Geoffrey Palis (Castres), Hugo Bonneval (Stade Français), Brice Dulin (Castres)

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