France name Six Nations squad

Virimi Vakatawa and Jean-Marc Doussain have been included in a 31-man training squad for France's Six Nations campaign, but Mathieu Bastareaud failed to make the cut.

Guy Noves is about to take charge of his first Six Nations campaign since replacing Philippe Saint-Andre, and the former Toulouse coach has promised an attacking approach with a youthful squad.

Fly-half Doussain, who made the last of his 10 France appearances in the 2014 Six Nations, returns, while the uncapped Vakatawa is called upon after impressing in Sevens rugby.

However, Bastareaud's future with the national team remains shrouded in doubt after the 39-capped centre was once again omitted having missed out on a squad for a training day last month.

"We want to build a team who will be able to improve a lot, and not taking players who would not be with us in two or three years," Noves told a news conference.

"We want to make the French people who will support us happy."

There are eight uncapped players in the squad, with front-rowers Camille Chat and Jefferson Poirot named along with lock Paul Jedrasiak.

Back-rowers Yacouba Camara and Kevin Gourdon, scrum-half Sebastien Bezy and centre Jonathan Danty are also included.

France start their Six Nations campaign at home to Italy on February 6.

France training squad:

Forwards: Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Eddy Ben Arous (Racing 92), Antoine Burban (Stade Francais), Yacouba Camara (Toulouse), Camille Chat (Racing 92), Damien Chouly (Clermont Auvergne), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Francais), Kevin Gourdon (Atlantique Stade Rochelais), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Paul Jedrasiak (Clermont Auvergne), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse), Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux), Rabah Slimani (Stade Francais) Sebastian Vahaamahina (Clermont Auvergne).

Backs: Sebastien Bezy (Toulouse), Hugo Bonneval (Stade Francais), Jonathan Danty (Stade Francais), Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulous), Alexandre Dumoulin (Racing 92), Benjamin Fall (Montpellier), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), Remi Lamerat (Castres), Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92), Maxime Medard (Toulouse), Morgan Parra (Clermont Auvergne), Jules Plisson (Stade Francais), Scott Spedding (Clermont Auvergne), Virimi Vakatawa (Racing 92).