Ethan Dumortier will make his debut against Italy after being named in Fabien Galthié’s France Six Nations squad for the Round 1 clash in Rome on Sunday.

The Lyon winger will wear the No 11 jersey in the absence of the injured Gabin Villière, who scored a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture last year to get France off to the perfect start en route to the 2022 Grand Slam.

Read more: France Six Nations fixtures

With Cameron Woki injured, Thibaud Flament comes into the second row while Jonathan Danty’s spot at inside centre is taken by Yoraem Moefana who partners defensive leader Gael Fickou in the midfield.

Antoine Dupont captains the side from scrum-half with Toulouse colleague Romain Ntamack outside him in the No 10 jersey, but it is full-back Thomas Ramos who will kick for goal in the Italian capital this weekend.

Watch out for exciting Racing 92 scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, a former France U20 captain, who is in line to win his first cap off the bench at the Stadio Olimpico.

France Six Nations squad to play Italy

Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Ethan Dumortier; Romain Ntamack,  Antoine Dupont (c); Gregory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon, Anthony Jelonch, Paul Willemse, Thibaud Flament, Uini Atonio, Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille

Replacements: Gaetan Barlot, Reda Wardi, Sipili Falatea, Romain Taofifenua, Thomas Lavault, Sekou Macalou, Nolann Le Garrec, Matthieu Jalibert

France Six Nations wider squad

France are looking to defend their title as the 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam champions – their first championship win since 2010.

Fabien Galthié has named his 42-man squad for the 2023 championship with eight uncapped players called up ahead of their opening fixture away in Italy on Sunday 5 February.

Galthié must do without several big names after centre Jonathan Danty, back row Cameron Woki and hooker Peato Mauvaka were ruled out through injury. Also sidelined are scrum-halves Maxime Lucu and Baptiste Couilloud.

Related: Maxime Lucu’s 50:22 sets up brainy Bordeaux try

The uncapped players include centres Emilien Gailleton and Julien Delbouis, scrum-halves Nolann Le Garrec and Leo Coly as well as flanker Paul Boudehent and back three operators Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Romain Buros and Ethan Dumortier.

France Six Nations Squad 2023

Forwards

Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle)
Uini Atonio (La Rochelle)
Cyril Baille (Toulouse)
Gaëtan Barlot (Castres)
Teddy Baubigny (Toulon)
Alexandre Becognee (Montpellier)
Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle)
Yacouba Camara(Montpellier)
Bastien Chalureau (Montpellier)
Dylan Cretin (Lou Rugby)
François Cros (Toulouse)
Sipili Falatea (Bordeaux-Bègles)
Thibaud Flament (Toulouse)
Mohamed Haouas (Montpellier)
Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse)
Thomas Jolmes (Bordeaux-Bègles)
Thomas Lavault (La Rochelle)
Sekou Macalou (Stade Français)
Julien Marchand (Toulouse)
Charles Ollivon (Toulon)
Dany Priso (Toulon)
Romain Taofifenua (Lou Rugby)
Reda Wardi (La Rochelle)
Paul Willemse (Montpellier)

Backs

Pierre-Louis Barassi (Toulouse)
Louis Bielle-Biarrey(Bordeaux-Bègles)
Romain Buros (Bordeaux-Bègles)
Léo Coly (Montpellier)
Julien Delbouis (Stade Français)
Ethan Dumortier (Lou Rugby)
Antoine Dupont (Toulouse) – Captain
Gaël Fickou (Racing 92)
Emilien Gailleton (Pau)
Antoine Hastoy (La Rochelle)
Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Bègles)
Melvyn Jaminet (Toulouse)
Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92)
Matthis Lebel (Toulouse)
Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Bègles)
Romain Ntamack (Toulouse)
Damian Penaud (Clermont Auvergne)
Thomas Ramos (Toulouse)

Home turf: France play their home matches at Stade de France (Getty Images)

France Six Nations Fixtures 2023

(All kick-off times are GMT)

Round 1

Sun 5 February, Italy v France – Stadio Olimpico, 3pm

Round 2

Sat 11 February, Ireland v France – Aviva Stadium, 2.15pm

Round 3

Sun 26 February, France v Scotland – Stade de France, 3pm

Round 4

Sat 12 March, England v France – Twickenham, 4.45pm

Round 5

Sat 18 March, France v Wales – Stade de France, 2.45pm

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