Ntamack named in France's Autumn squad despite ankle injury

Romain Ntamack was on Monday included in France's 42-strong squad for Autumn internationals against Australia, South Africa and Japan.

Ntamack suffered a twisted right ankle in early September and is currently on a return-to-play schedule for Top 14 leaders Toulouse.

Among the 41 others called up by head coach Fabien Galthie are eight uncapped players including Lyon winger Ethan Dumortier and Bordeaux-Begles centre Pablo Uberti.

The squad will meet up on 23 October ahead of three back-to-back Test matches.

France will go into the series as the number one ranked team in the world after a first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2010 and a winning tour of Japan in the summer that left them unbeaten in the season for the first time.

World player of the year Antoine Dupont, lock Cameron Woki and the hardy backrow combination of Gregory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon and Anthony Jelonch are all included along with fly-half Matthieu Jalibert, centre and defensive leader Gael Fickou and fullback Thomas Ramos.

Fiji-born Clermont winger Alivereti Raka makes his return to the squad for the first time since 2020 after a good start to the Top 14 season which sees him sitting atop the try-scoring charts with five.

France's Autumn internationals  

5 November v Australia at Paris 

12 November v South Africa at Marseille  

20 November v Japan at Toulouse