France Six Nations 2026: Les Bleus shed skin as Fabien Galthie makes big calls

Head coach Fabien Galthie has been at the helm of French rugby since 2019 – only Gregor Townsend has been in post longer out of the Six Nations sides - and like his Scotland counterpart, he is presiding over a golden generation of player.

Nevertheless, a few of them won’t be present for the 2026 edition. The decision to omit back-row Gregory Alldritt, centre Gael Fickou and winger Damian Penaud hogged the headlines when Galthie named his 42-man squad last week.

There is rationale behind each decision, although being able to go without your nation’s top tryscorer is a show of flamboyance and gallus that only France can pull off. Penaud has scored 40 tries in 59 appearances and is a serial finisher, yet the 29-year-old has paid the price for his defensive qualities. With more and more emphasis on tackling and challenging for aerial duels in the modern game, Penaud has lost his place due to deficiencies in that sector.

Experienced centre Fickou, 31, captained France last year but his status as a key cog in Galthie’s wheel has diminished as the season has developed. His club Racing 92 have struggled in the Top 14 and the French are likely to go with Bordeaux-Begles’ in-form pairing of Yoram Moefana and Nicolas Depoortere. Two caps away from a century, Fickou will hope that the door is not completely closed.

Alldritt also held the armband last year and his demotion is another statement from Galthie (above) given that in the past five years, he has started 46 times for France. The 28-year-old hasn’t been in the best of nick for La Rochelle this term and has fallen behind Mickaël Guillard in the international pecking order.

All these decisions seem big given that France start off the tournament on Thursday night against title rivals Ireland at Stade de France – and many expected all three to be in and around the squad.

Another experienced player who won’t feature is 35-year-old prop Uini Atonio - although for very different reasons. The experienced forward suffered a cardiac event at the start of this week and has been forced to immediately retire from the sport. His absence will be keenly felt and while his condition is stable, what has happened will have rocked his teammates.

The France wing sensation

Despite all of this, France still have an abundance of talent. Penaud has been eclipsed by 22-year-old wing sensation Louis Bielle-Biarrey who was named in World Rugby’s team of the year for 2025 and is an extreme talent. He was the only Frenchman included, which raised some eyebrows.

Had he been fit for more than three months, then surely France’s talisman Antoine Dupont would have been picked too. His 2025 came to a shuddering halt against the Irish in early March when he suffered a significant knee injury. Now back fully fit and inspiring Toulouse’s return to form, his creativity, vision and devastating skillset will give France a massive boost. He has been named captain for the tournament.

First-choice stand-off Romain Ntamack has a kidney issue and will miss the start of the tournament, so Matthieu Jalibert is likely to form the half-back pairing with Dupont even if he has not seen eye-to-eye with Galthie during some of his stewardship. The French pack will be without lock Thibaud Flament for the Ireland match, who is supporting his partner Ethel as she goes through endometriosis treatment. His moving interview last week was a reminder that there is more to life than just sport.

Galthie has injected some fresh blood into his squad. There are eight uncapped players: lock Tom Staniforth, back-row Temo Matiu, stand-off Ugo Seunes, centres Fabien Brau-Boirie and Noah Nene, wingers Gaël Dréan and Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang plus full-back Grégoire Arfeuil. France is shedding its skin.

Since the Six Nations, France’s form has been bitty. They went on a four-game losing streak, falling to New Zealand three times in a row on tour and then being beaten by 14-man South Africa 32-17 in Paris. That defeat by the Boks was a bit of a wake-up call, with wins over Fiji and Australia – although neither were especially convincing.

France have three home matches and take on their principal challengers Ireland and England on their own patch. That gives them some advantage in their quest to defend their title. The game against the Irish in particular is likely to set the tone.

With Dupont fit and firing, this French team clearly has the potential to go all the way, but any stalls and Galthie’s big squad decisions could come under further scrutiny.

The France breakdown

Head coach: Fabien Galthie.

Key player: Antoine Dupont.

One to watch: Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

Record in past 5 years: 2025- 1st, 2024 - 2nd, 2023- 2nd, 2022 - 1st, 2021- 2nd.

World ranking: 5th.

Did you know? French great Serge Blanco is known as the ‘Pele of rugby’ and announced last year that he would stand for mayor in Biarritz.