On 8 February the following training squad of 40 players was announced:
Forwards
Julie Annery (Stade Bordelais), Rose Bernadou (Montpellier), Axelle Berthoumieu (Blagnac), Yllana Brosseau (Bobigny), Léa Champon (Grenoble), Annaëlle Deshaye (Stade Bordelais),
Célia Domain (Blagnac), Charlotte Escudero (Blagnac), Madoussou Fall (Stade Bordelais), Manae Felue (Grenoble), Téani Feleu (Grenoble), Audrey Forlani (Blagnac), Emeline Gros (Grenoble), Gaëlle Hermet (Stade Toulousain), Clara Joyeux (Blagnac), Assia Khalfaoui (Stade Bordelais), Coco Lindelauf (Blagnac), Romane Menager (Montpellier), Ambre Mwayembe (Grenoble), Maëlle Picut (Blagnac Rugby), Elisa Riffoneau (Stade Rennais), Agathe Sochat (Stade Bordelais), Mabinty Sylla (Stade Bordelais), Laure Touyé (Montpellier)
24
Backs
Carla Arbez (Stade Bordelais), Cyrielle Banet (Montpellier), Pauline Barrat (Stade Rochelais),
Caroline Boujard (Montpellier), Pauline Bourdon (Stade Toulousain), Morgane Bourgeois (Stade Bordelais), Alexandra Chambon (Grenoble), Margaux Duces (Stade Rennais), Marie Dupouy (Blagnac), Maëlle Filopon (Stade Toulousain), Lilou Graciet (LOU), Maé Levy (Montpellier),
Mélissande Llorens (Blagnac), Marine Menager (Montpellier), Jessy Trémoulière (ASM Romagnat), Gabrielle Vernier (Blagnac)
16
Lina Queyroi is recovering from injury; Emilie Boulard is with the 7s squad
After the Retirements
The big question is: who will replace the leading figures who have retired?
Not all of them were first choices at the close of their careers, not even Safi N’Diaye or Marjorie Mayans. But Céline Ferer was, so that leaves a space next to Madoussou Fall in the second row. Will Manae Feleu be the choice? Now that her sister Téani has been added to the throng, she might wish to indulge in a bit of one-upwomanship. That makes two pairs of sisters in the group, the others the Ménagers.
The one position not in any doubt is No 9. With the retirement of Laure Sansus, Pauline Bourdon should be sure of much more game-time.
Caroline Drouin’s name is not to be seen, so that opens the door for a replacement in the vital position of N0 10. The recent preference has been Jessy Trémoulière; will the new coaches look for fresh blood elsewhere?
They have cast their glance wide, including several players from the Under 20 squad. Pauline Barrat becomes the only representative from Elite 2, as well as being the first from her club to join the national squad. That is a rare honour these days.
The Programme
Work begins on 13 February at Cap Breton in the deep south-west.
The division of responsibility between the two coaches, Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz, is fascinating. For the first two days they will concentrate on the forwards; the last two on the backs. On the middle day the whole group will work together. You might wonder whether this is the most efficient way to conduct operations.
In early March a reduced squad of 36 will gather for three days in Montpellier.
The No 1 target remains the Crunch. This time it will be away to the Red Roses, who will be intent on offering Simon Middleton a fitting farewell. A world-record stand-alone crowd will witness events at Twickenham Stadium.
