Montpellier players Bouthier and Darmon are back, the surprise of Meafou… the French XV squad for Wales

Le géant australien va découvrir les Bleus. MAXPPP – Manuel Blondeau

Toulouse's Australian second row Emmanuel Meafou has been called up by the French XV to prepare for Les Bleus' match against Wales, the French Rugby Federation announced on Sunday.

Thomas Darmon and Anthony Bouthier will be in Marcoussis this week, alongside their Hérault teammates Paul Willemse and Bastien Chalureau to prepare for the reception of Wales (Saturday at 3:45 p.m.).

Meafou (24 years old) is not eligible to play in the match on the 5th and final day of the Six Nations Tournament. Having arrived in Toulouse at the end of 2018, he does not meet World Rugby's eligibility criteria (5 years of residence in the country) before the end of the year. But the colossus (2.03 m, 145 kg) has been in the sights of the Blues' staff for a while, with coach Fabien Galthié recently admitting to following him “very closely”.

Meafou will therefore experience a first in Marcoussis, alongside thirteen other players. Rochelais Uini Atonio, Paul Boudehent, Thomas Lavault, Yoan Tanga and Antoine Hastoy have been called up to join Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Grégory Alldritt and Gaël Fickou, historic winners of England at Twickenham (50-13).