France cuts Castaignede

From correspondents in marcoussis, France
June 14, 2007

RUGBY World Cup host France has omitted Thomas Castaignede from its 30-man squad for the tournament to be played in September and October.

No.8 Sebastien Chabal, whose fate was one of the main question marks hanging over the announcement, is among the six back rowers named by team manager Jo Maso.

Coach Bernard Laporte and the other selectors gave the nod to Pierre Mignoni and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde ahead of Dimitri Yachvili at scrum half.

They recalled lock Fabien Pelous and fly half Frederic Michalak, who have not played any internationals this year because of injuries.

Prop Sylvain Marconnet, yet to resume training after breaking a leg on March 4, in a skiing accident, is also included in the list.

Reuters

France Rugby World Cup Squad:

Forwards:

Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Frangais), Pieter De Villiers (Stade Francais), Olivier Milloud (Bourgoin), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Stade Toulousain), Raphael Ibanez (Wasps, England), Sebastien Bruno (Sale, England), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Fabien Pelous (Stade Toulousain, Captain), Lionel Thion (Biarritz), Jerome Nallet (Castres), Sebastien Chabal (Sale, England), Julien Bonnaire (Bourgoin), Serge Betsen (Biarritz), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Remy Martin (Stade Francais), Elvis Vermeulen (Clermont), Yannick Nyanga (Stade Toulousain).

Backs:

Pierre Mignoni (Clermont), Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Stade Toulousain), Lionel Beauxis (Stade Francais), Frederic Michalak (Stade Toulousain), Philippe Skrela (Stade Francais), Yannick Jauzion (Stade Toulousain), Damien Traille (Biarritz), David Marty (Perpignan), Christophe Dominici (Stade Francais), Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont), Cedric Heymans (Stade Toulousain), Vincent Clerc (Stade Toulousain), Clement Poitrenaud (Stade Toulousain).

Only three (all Forwards) from outside of French Club Rugby.