Bourdon Sansus takes France captaincy for WXV as injury crisis depletes second row

Pauline Bourdon Sansus will captain France at the 2026 WXV Global Series after head coach François Ratier handed the 30-year-old scrum-half the armband in the absence of regular captain Manae Feleu, who is taking two months away from the game to concentrate on her medicine studies.

“A great sense of pride,” Bourdon Sansus said of the appointment. “Being captain of the French team is something exceptional, and it wasn’t necessarily something I was expecting. But I’ve already held a leadership role in the team for a while, and Manae remains the captain; she’s the one who usually wears the armband. The two of us make a real team and complement each other well.”

The scrum-half was keen to frame the captaincy as a collective responsibility rather than a solo burden. “On paper, I’m the one wearing the armband, but in reality, we exchange ideas and communicate a lot to help the girls on the pitch. It comes quite naturally and flows easily between us.”

The leadership change arrives alongside a significant injury crisis in the second row. Both Hina Ikahehegi and Marine Kazmierczak are ruled out with injury, while Masoussou Fall Raclot will miss an extended period due to pregnancy. The depth problem is severe enough that No.8 Charlotte Escudero, 25, is expected to be deployed at lock after recently attending a front-five forward coaching camp in Capbreton aimed at building cohesion in the tight five.

Uncapped Blagnac second row Julia Grosz has been brought into the squad to help address the shortage. Back-row forwards Khoudedia Cissokho and Isis Espuga have also been included, as has former France Sevens wing Valentine Lothoz.

Over the next two months, Les Bleues face six demanding Test matches — four against the Black Ferns, one against the Wallaroos, and one against Canada — making the depleted lock stocks a pressing concern for Ratier’s coaching staff.

France 2026 WXV Global Series squad

Forwards: Mathilde Lazarko, Elisa Riffonneau, Amalia Bazola Allières, Rose Bernadou, Yllana Brosseau, Annaëlle Deshaye, Assia Khalfaoui, Maïlys Mailagi, Ambre Mwayembe, Cloé Correa, Charlotte Escudero, Julia Grosz, Lou Roboam, Siobhan Soqeta, Axelle Berthoumieu, Léa Champon, Khoudedia Cissokho, Isis Espuga, Elsa Peyras, Mouna Toure

Backs: Pauline Bourdon Sansus, Alexandra Chambon, Lylou Pedussaud, Carla Arbez, Elodie Fernandez, Lina Queyroi, Lili Dezou, Teani Feleu, Aubane Rousset, Gabrielle Vernier, Kelly Arbey, Emilie Boulard, Morgane Bourgeois, Alice Grandhomme, Anaïs Grando, Marie Ibanez, Chloé Jacquet, Valentine Lothoz, Léa Murie