France’s Six Nations 2026 squad will open this year’s championship against Ireland on Thursday night, as head coach Fabien Galthié looks to lead his side to a second successive title – and maybe a first Grand Slam since 2022.

His 42-man squad features some big surprises, however, as big names like Gaël Fickou, Grégory Aldritt and Damian Penaud all miss out on this initial France Six Nations squad, with Galthié seemingly having one eye on the future.

Galthié has also had to adapt to the shock retirement of Uini Atonio after the prop suffered a heart attack, and injury to La Rochelle teammate Paul Boudehent. Georges-Henri Colombe and Alexandre Roumat have been drafted into the 42-man squad as replacements.

Unsurprisingly, Les Bleus welcome back captain Antoine Dupont after a lengthy injury lay-off, along with Louis Bielle-Biarrey (last season’s record try scorer), Thomas Ramos and many other stars from the last campaign.

Joshua Brennan, son of Ireland international Trevor Brennan, has also been called in the squad to replace Toulouse teammate Thibaut Flament who misses the Ireland game due to it clashing with his wife’s fertility treatment.

There are 12 uncapped players in this 42-man squad, while high-flying Pau (currently in second place in the Top 14) supply six members – only Toulouse and Bordeaux Bègles have more. Toulouse fly-half Romain Ntamack misses out through injury.

This page will be updated with team news for all of Les Bleus’ championship games. You can also look back at the line-ups for the team’s Six Nations fixtures last season.

• Read more: How to watch the Six Nations 2026 from anywhere

France Six Nations squad 2026: Galthié’s 42-man squad

Forwards (25): Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse), Hugo Auradou (Pau), Cyril Baille (Toulouse), Joshua Brennan (Toulouse), Georges-Henri Colombe (Toulouse), François Cros (Toulouse), Alexandre Fischer (Bayonne), Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon), Mickaël Guillard (Lyon), Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle), Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse), Maxime Lamothe (Bordeaux Bègles), Julien Marchand (Toulouse), Temo Matiu (Bordeaux Bègles), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse), Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse), Régis Montagne (Clermont-Auvergne), Rodrigue Neti (Toulouse), Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier), Charles Ollivon (Toulon), Dany Priso (Toulon), Alexandre Roumat (Toulouse), Thomas Staniforth (Castres), Tevita Tatafu (Bayonne), Cameron Woki (Bordeaux Bègles)

Backs (17): Grégoire Arfeuil (Pau), Théo Attissogbe (Pau), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux Bègles), Fabien Brau-Boirie (Pau), Romain Buros (Bordeaux Bègles), Thibault Daubagna (Pau), Nicolas Depoortere (Bordeaux Bègles), Gaël Dréan (Toulon), Antoine Dupont (Toulouse, captain), Kalvin Gourgues (Toulouse), Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (Pau), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux Bègles), Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux Bègles), Noah Nene (Stade Français), Thomas Ramos (Stade Toulousain), Baptiste Serin (RC Toulon), Ugo Seunes (Racing 92)

France Six Nations squad: 2026 fixtures at a glance

• Thu 5 February, France v Ireland (kick-off 8.10pm GMT, Stade de France, Paris) Live on ITV in the UK
• Sun 15 February, Wales v France (kick-off 3.10pm GMT, Principality Stadium, Cardiff) Live on the BBC in the UK
• Sun 22 February, France v Italy (kick-off 3.10pm GMT, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille) Live on ITV in the UK
• Sat 7 March, Scotland v France (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh) Live on the BBC in the UK
• Sat 14 March, France v England (kick-off 8.10pm GMT, Stade de France, Paris) Live on ITV in the UK

• Read more: Men’s Six Nations fixtures 2026

France Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2025

Round 1: v Wales (Stade de France, Paris)

Result: France 43-0 Wales

Starting XV:
15. Thomas Ramos
14. Théo Attissogbé
13. Pierre-Louis Barassi
12. Yoram Moefana
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
10. Romain Ntamack
9. Antoine Dupont (captain)

1. Jean-Baptiste Gros
2. Peato Mauvaka
3. Uini Atonio
4. Alexandre Roumat
5. Emmanuel Meafou
6. François Cros
7. Paul Boudehent
8. Grégory Alldritt

Replacements:
16. Julien Marchand
17. Cyril Baille
18. Georges-Henri Colombe
19. Hugo Auradou
20. Mickaël Guillard
21. Oscar Jégou
22. Nolann Le Garrec
23. Émilien Gailleton

Round 2: v England (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)

Result: England 26-25 France

Starting XV:
15. Thomas Ramos
14. Damian Penaud
13. Pierre-Louis Barassi
12. Yoram Moefana
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
10. Matthieu Jalibert
9. Antoine Dupont (captain)

1. Jean-Baptiste Gros
2. Peato Mauvaka
3. Uini Atonio
4. Alexandre Roumat
5. Emmanuel Meafou
6. François Cros
7. Paul Boudehent
8. Grégory Alldritt

Replacements:
16. Julien Marchand
17. Cyril Baille
18. Georges-Henri Colombe
19. Hugo Auradou
20. Mickaël Guillard
21. Oscar Jégou
22. Nolann Le Garrec
23. Émilien Gailleton

Round 3: v Italy (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)

Result: Italy 24-73 France

Starting XV:
15. Léo Barré
14. Théo Attissogbé
13. Pierre-Louis Barassi
12. Yoram Moefana
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
10. Thomas Ramos
9. Antoine Dupont (captain)

1. Jean-Baptiste Gros
2. Peato Mauvaka
3. Uini Atonio
4. Thibaud Flament
5. Mickaël Guillard
6. François Cros
7. Paul Boudehent
8. Grégory Alldritt

Replacements:
16. Julien Marchand
17. Cyril Baille
18. Dorian Aldegheri
19. Romain Taofifénua
20. Alexandre Roumat
21. Oscar Jégou
22. Anthony Jelonch
23. Maxime Lucu

Round 4: v Ireland (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)

Result: Ireland 27-42 France

Starting XV:
15. Thomas Ramos
14. Damian Penaud
13. Pierre-Louis Barassi
12. Yoram Moefana
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
10. Romain Ntamack
9. Antoine Dupont (captain)

1. Jean-Baptiste Gros
2. Peato Mauvaka
3. Uini Atonio
4. Thibaud Flament
5. Mickaël Guillard
6. François Cros
7. Paul Boudehent
8. Grégory Alldritt

Replacements:
16. Julien Marchand
17. Cyril Baille
18. Dorian Aldegheri
19. Emmanuel Meafou
20. Hugo Auradou
21. Oscar Jégou
22. Anthony Jelonch
23. Maxime Lucu

Round 5: v Scotland (Stade de France, Paris)

Result: France 35-16 Scotland

Starting XV:
15. Thomas Ramos
14. Damian Penaud
13. Gaël Fickou
12. Yoram Moefana
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
10. Romain Ntamack
9. Maxime Lucu

1. Jean-Baptiste Gros
2. Peato Mauvaka
3. Uini Atonio
4. Thibaud Flament
5. Mickaël Guillard
6. François Cros
7. Paul Boudehent
8. Grégory Alldritt (captain)

Replacements:
16. Julien Marchand
17. Cyril Baille
18. Dorian Aldegheri
19. Emmanuel Meafou
20. Hugo Auradou
21. Oscar Jégou
22. Anthony Jelonch
23. Nolann Le Garrec