Interim France coach Aurélien Cologni has named a 24-man squad to take on Wales on 16 June. While the Federation Francaise’s search for a permanent successor to Bobbie Goulding continues, the latter’s former assistant and national elite trainer, Thierry Dumaine, pick up the reins.

French Federation president Nicolas Larrat, who is overseeing the search for a new national team coach, has stressed the importance of the outing in Wrexham. “It was important for us to see young players from the Elite clubs in this preparation match, with the world cup and the European Cup in mind. We already know the regular Catalans players, some of whom are undisputed members of the national team, so it was natural to give these younger players a chance against Wales to show their progression.”

Exciting youngsters such as Théo Gonzalez-Trique, Clement Soubeyras and Jonathon Soum have graduated from the France youth ranks. All three played with current full international Eloi Pelissier for France under-19s in 2010 and now join him in Les Bleus’s ranks, where they will be guided by the experienced quartet of Olivier Elima, Grégory Mounis, Jean Philippe Baile and Thomas Bosc.

Pictured: Olivier Elima (left) and Jean Philippe Baile return to national team duty.

FRANCE TRAIN-ON SQUAD
Olivier Arnaud (Avignon), Olivier Elima (Bradford Bulls), Romaric Bemba, Jérémy Guiraud, Jonathan Soum (Carcassonne), Jean-Philippe Baile, Thomas Bosc, Grégory Mounis, Eloi Pelissier, Cyril Stacul (Dragons Catalans), Andrew Bentley, Kane Bentley, Mathieu Griffi, Yoan Tisseyre (Lézignan), Anthony Carrere, Clément Soubeyras (Pia), William Barthau, Julian Bousquet, Damien Cardace, Mathias Pala (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan), Théo Gonzalez-Trique, Kevin Larroyer (Toulouse), Samy Masselot, Stanislas Robin (Villeneuve sur Lot)