Dublin-born Joshua Brennan could make his France debut next month, with the Toulouse forward named in a 42-man squad for their Autumn Nations Series campaign by head coach Fabien Galthie.
Brennan, son of former Ireland international Trevor, was born in Ireland but has lived most of his life in France after his father joined Toulouse in 2002.
The 22-year-old played U20 rugby for France in 2020 and 2021 and now looks set to be involved for Les Bleus, who face Japan, New Zealand and Argentina next month.
Brennan has played 69 times for the French giants since his debut in 2020, following in the footsteps of both his father and older brother Daniel, who is now based with Toulon.
Brennan played 25 times for Ugo Mola’s side last season across the second and back row, and featured off the bench in both the Investec Champions Cup final against Leinster, and the Top14 final against Bordeaux-Begles.
Former Munster centre Antoine Frisch has also been included in the French squad, having made his debut on the summer tour of Argentina.
Meanwhile, Antoine Dupont (below) has returned to the squad for the first time since last year’s World Cup. The 27-year-old has not played for the national team since the quarter-final loss to South Africa in Paris in October, though he has since gone on to win an Olympic gold medal with the French sevens rugby team.
The internationals are the first for France since a controversy-laden tour of Argentina in July, overshadowed by the arrest of two French players on rape charges, and the sending home, and subsequent lengthy suspension, of full-back Melvyn Jaminet for racist comments on social media.
France rested many key players for the trip to South America but are back to near full strength for the November internationals, save for yet another injury to out-half Romain Ntamack after a calf tear in domestic league action two weeks ago, and the sidelining of hooker Julien Marchand.
As well as Brennan, Galthie called up four other uncapped players in Tonga-born tighthead Tevita Tatafu, Bordeaux loose forwards Marko Gazzoti and Pierre Bochaton, and Toulouse centre Paul Costes.
France take on Japan on 9 November, New Zealand on 16 November and Argentina on 22 November, all at the Stade de France in Paris.
France squad
Forwards: Gregory Aldritt, Uini Antonio, Gaetan Barlot, Pierre Bochaton, Paul Boudehent, Joshua Brennan, Georges-Henri Colombe, Francois Cros, Thibaud Flament, Marko Gazzotti, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mickael Guillard, Anthony Jelonch, Maxime Lamothe, Peato Mauvaka, Emmanuel Meafou, Lenni Nouchi, Charles Ollivon, Alexandre Roumat, Romain Taofifenua, Sebastien Taofifenua, Tevita Tatafu, Reda Wardi
Backs: Theo Attissogbe, Leo Barre, Leo Berdeu, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Romain Buros, Paul Costes, Jonathan Danty, Antoine Dupont, Gael Fickou, Antoine Frisch, Emilien Gailleton, Mathieu Jalibert, Nolann Le Garrec, Mathis Lebel, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Damian Penaud, Thomas Ramos, Gabin Villiere
Additional reporting: Reuters
