The selectors of the French women’s the French Sevens team. Drouin (27 years old, Rennes, 30 selections) has not played with the Blues since the match for third place at the last World Cup, in the fall of 2022 in New Zealand, in which the French women won the bronze medal.
She has since devoted herself to the world rugby sevens circuit, with a view to the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11). Among the Blues expected from Monday to Thursday at Insep (National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance), are the usual executives, such as hooker Agathe Sochat, scrum half Pauline Bourdon Sansus, third row Gaëlle Hermet, the center Gabrielle Vernier, the sisters Romane and Marine Ménager, but not the captain of the 2023 Tournament, the second row Audrey Forlani.
Six players without any selection were also called up. “With the experience acquired in 2023 and only one year before the 2025 World Cup in England, we must perform in all 5 matches,” declared Mignot, quoted in the press release. “This group is in line with our project, characterized by the integration of young players and our ambition to strengthen the team with an increase in collective skills.” The name of the captain of this 2024 edition will be announced on Monday.
The French women, who finished the 2023 Tournament in second place behind the English “Red Roses” and whose last title dates back to 2018, Grand Slam to boot, will begin the competition at Le Mans against Ireland. They will then go to Edinburgh to face Scotland on March 30, then will meet on April 14 at the Jean-Bouin stadium in Paris against Italy, before flying a week later to Cardiff where they will face to the Welsh. Finally, in what should be the “final” of the Tournament, they will play their last match against England at the Chaban-Delmas stadium in Bordeaux on April 27.
The group of 32 Blues:
Forwards (19): Rose Bernadou (Montpellier), Axelle Berthoumieu (Blagnac), Manon Bigot (Blagnac), Léa Champon (Grenoble), Annaëlle Deshaye (Stade Bordelais), Charlotte Escudero (Stade Toulousain), Madoussou Fall (Stade Bordelais), Manae Feleu (Grenoble), Teani Feleu (Grenoble), Emeline Gros (Grenoble), Gaëlle Hermet (Stade Toulousain), Clara Joyeux (Blagnac), Assia Khalfaoui (Stade Bordelais), Romane Ménager (Montpellier), Ambre Mwayembe (Grenoble), Elisa Riffoneau (Ealing Trailfinders Women/ENG), Agathe Sochat (Stade Bordelais), Chloé Vauclin (Stade Rennais), Kiara Zago (Stade Toulousain)
Backs (13): Kelly Arbey (Stade Toulousain), Océane Bordes (Stade Toulousain), Emilie Boulard (Blagnac), Pauline Bourdon Sansus (Stade Toulousain), Morgane Bourgeois (Stade Bordelais), Alexandra Chambon (Grenoble), Caroline Drouin (Stade Rennais), Nassira Kondé (Stade Bordelais), Marine Ménager (Montpellier), Lina Queyroi (Blagnac), Suliana Sivi (Stade Rennais), Lina Tuy (Romagnat), Gabrielle Vernier (Blagnac).