XV of France: Gabin Villière summoned to prepare Six Nations Tournament

The Toulon winger resumed the competition on Saturday, after two months of stopping. The pillar of the Stade Français Clément Castets also joined the group of forty-two players called to prepare the first match of the tournament, against Italy, February 5.

MO12345lemonde with AFP

In a week, Sunday, February 5, the XV of France will play its first ranges in the 2023 Six Nations tournament, against Italy. If competition is already traditionally one of the most anticipated meetings of international rugby, this year, it is also a last major rehearsal before the World Cup, organized from September 8 to October 28 in France.

Sunday, January 29, two new players were summoned by coach Fabien Galthié and the supervision of the Blues to join in Capbreton, in the Landes, the group of forty-two called to prepare the first match of the tournament, whose France is holder of the title.

Among them: the winger of Toulon, Gabin Villière. Usual holder at the Blues, the 27 -year -old resumed competition on Saturday after two months of stopping. Injured in an ankle, then to one hand, he only played two matches with his club this season. For his return, he showed a lot of desire during the RCT victory against Pau (27-16). Despite two in front, Villière was very present in the rucks as usual and obtained a penalty after a good scratch, before being replaced at the 62 ^{e minute of play.}

Last match with the Blues on March 18, 2022

Thursday, the rear coach of the XV of France, Laurent Labit, had confided to count on him for the six nations: “We are going to watch his match this weekend and especially his sensations. We know what Gabin is Capable of doing and what he did with us. What matters most is the feeling and the sensations he will have. “

The former Rouen winger, who went through rugby in VII, had not played with the French team since the victory against England (25-13), on March 18, 2022, in the tournament of the six nations, of which he had finished co-Meilleur test marker with Damian Penaud (three each).

The other “new” retained compared to the initial list of the staff of the XV of France, unveiled in mid-January, is the left pillar of the French stadium Clément Castets, 26 years old and never caped so far. Holder on Saturday during the defeat of “pink soldiers” in Perpignan (31-24), he played for an hour.

Digitally, Castets and Villière replace in the tricolor group the Toulon left pillar Dany Prisco and the second line of Bordeaux-Bègles Thomas Jolmès.

The list of 42 players summoned by Fabien Garthié:

Pillars: Uini Atonio, Cyril Baille, Clément Castets, Sipili Falatea, Mohamed Haouas, Reda Wardi.

Taloners: Gaëtan Barlot, Julien Marchand, Teddy Baubigny.

Second lines: Bastien Chalureau, Thibaud Flament, Thomas Lavault, Romain Taofifenua, Paul Willemse.