France name 24-player forward camp to sharpen set-piece ahead of WXV Global Series

France women’s head coach François Ratier has assembled a 24-player front-five squad for a four-day training camp in Capbreton, beginning Thursday 20 August, as Les Bleues begin targeted preparations for the WXV Global Series and a packed international calendar.

The camp is the first of its kind organised by the French coaching staff — a session dedicated entirely to tight forwards, with set-piece work at its core. Forwards coach Florent Wieczorek said the gathering is designed to “fine-tune the details of our set-piece play” while simultaneously building connections between senior internationals and players from the U20 and U18 pathways.

Ratier framed the camp as the opening chapter of an unusually demanding season. “This camp marks the start of a particularly intense international season, with eleven matches on the schedule: six in the WXV Global Series and five in the Six Nations Championship,” he said. In the autumn, France face New Zealand’s Black Ferns four times alongside one-off home fixtures against Canada and Australia.

Among the names drawing attention is Stade Rochelais prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi — second cousin of the All Blacks prop of the same name — who earned her place after helping her club win promotion back to the French top-flight last season.

While the tight forwards convene in Capbreton, Ratier confirmed his staff will simultaneously monitor senior France internationals competing at the In Extenso Supersevens in Biarritz that same weekend. Gloucester Hartpury-bound Gabrielle Vernier, Grenoble centre Teani Feleu and Olympic silver medallist Chloé Jacquet are among those in action there.

“This gathering will be an opportunity to build bonds and foster knowledge transfer between the France team’s senior players and the young talent coming up through the pathway,” Ratier added.

The full 24-player squad drawn from clubs including Stade Bordelais, Stade Toulousain, Montpellier RC, Stade Rochelais and ASM Romagnat spans a mix of established Test caps and younger forwards Ratier’s staff believe are capable of stepping up to international level.