Sébastien Vahaamahina and Vincent Pelo have been called up by Guy Noves to rejoin the France team preparing for their 2016 RBS 6 Nations opener against Italy.
Les Bleus will welcome Italy to the Stade de France on February 6 and have been boosted by the return of Vahaamahina who had missed training this week.
But now back from a knee problem, the second row replaces Bernard Le Roux – who is getting married this weekend – in the group.
La Rochelle prop Pelo rejoins the France team after being called up to their second preparatory squad before the Championship.
Noves has also opted to retain Marvin O’Connor and Maxime Mermoz – who were both called up this week following injuries to Benjamin Fall and Alexandre Dumoulin.
And speaking at the 2016 RBS 6 Nations launch at the Hurlingham Club in London on Wednesday, new skipper Guilhem Guirado outlined the plan to restore France to their former glories.
“This event is the perfect launchpad for our RBS 6 Nations campaign,” he said. “The players all now realise that our first game against the Italians is only a week away and we know it will be a big match.” The group of 31 players for Italy: Forwards: Uini Atonio (La Rochelle) Eddy Ben Arous (Racing 92) Vincent Pelo (La Rochelle) Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux-Bègles) Rabah Slimani (Stade Français) Camille Chat (Racing 92) Guilhem Guirado (Toulon) (c) Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Français) Paul Jedrasiak (Clermont Auvergne) Yoann Maestri (Toulouse) Sébastien Vahaamahina (Clermont Auvergne) Antoine Burban (Stade Français) Yacouba Camara (Toulouse) Damien Chouly (Clermont) Kevin Gourdon (La Rochelle) Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92) Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)
Backs: Sébastien Bézy (Toulouse) Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92) Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse) Jules Plisson (Stade Français) Jonathan Danty (Stade Français) Gaël Fickou (Toulouse) Wesley Fofana (Clermont Auvergne) Rémi Lamerat (Castres) Maxime Mermoz (Toulon) Hugo Bonneval (Stade Français) Maxime Médard (Toulouse) Marvin O’Connor (Montpellier) Scott Spedding (Clermont Auvergne) Virimi Vakatawa (FFR)
Click here for the 2016 RBS 6 Nations TV listings and fixture list
