SA-born Willemse returns to France squad for Six Nations

Lock Paul Willemse was named in France's Six Nations squad after missing five Tests last year with a knee injury, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced on Tuesday.

Willemse, 30, sustained the issue in May and returned for his club Montpellier in September, 12 months out from France hosting this year's Rugby World Cup.

The Pretoria-born second-row missed July's series win over Japan and victories over Australia, South Africa and the Brave Blossoms in November as France set a national record of 13 Test successes.

Toulouse flanker Francois Cros also makes his Test comeback after recovering from a knee issue.

Les Bleus head coach Fabien Galthie has also named eight uncapped players in his set-up including Racing 92's Nolann Le Garrec and Montpellier's Leo Coly as back-ups to scrum-half and captain Antoine Dupont with Maxime Lucu suffering an ankle issue.

The other debutants are Bordeaux-Begles backs Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Romain Buros, Lyon winger Ethan Dumortier, centres in Stade Francais' Julien Delbouis, Pau's Emilien Gailleton and La Rochelle back-rower Paul Boudehent.

Loose forward Yacouba Camara is included for the first time since the 2019 World Cup, having led Montpellier to the Top 14 title in June.

There is no place for Australian-born lock Emmanuel Meafou as the Toulouse lock is waiting for his French passport, as demanded by the FFR, and there are doubts over whether he has completed the necessary five years of residency, as required by World Rugby.

Racing 92 forward Cameron Woki as well as winger Gabin Villiere, second-choice hooker Peato Mauvaka, prop Jean-Baptise Gros and lock Killian Geraci are also sidelined.

La Rochelle winger Teddy Thomas continues to wait for his first Test appearances since July 2021