Richard Agar picks eight Catalan Dragons in France squad for European Championship
Saturday 4 October 2014 12:03, UK
France coach Richard Agar has named eight players from Catalan Dragons in his 23-strong squad for the 2014 European Championship.
Paris-born Jason Baitieri, one of the Catalan contingent, will succeed club-mate Olivier Elima - left out by Agar - as captain of the national team.
The vastly-experienced Elima is thought to have retired from the international game and heads the list of notable absentees, with Test regulars Remi Casty, Thomas Bosc and Gregory Mounis also left out of the squad.
Agar received a boost as Catalan full-back Morgan Escare has declared himself fit, despite hobbling off in Thursday's Super League semi-final defeat at St Helens, and he will join a youthful squad.
Two 19-year-old centres, Thibaud Margalet of St Esteve, and Avignon's Ben Jullien are among six potential debutants for the French.
Ireland, Scotland and Wales will also take part in the tournament, with the eventual winners securing a place in the 2016 Four Nations.
France begin their campaign with a trip to Dublin on October 17, then host Wales in Albi before completing their group fixtures away in Scotland.
France squad: C Soubeyras (AS Carcassonne), J Baitieri, J Bousquet, D Cardace, V Duport, M Escare, B Garcia, A Maria, E Pelissier (all Catalan Dragons), K Larroyer (Hull KR), J Boudebza, A Carrere, J Fakir (Lezignan), R Marginet, F Vaccari (Palau), T Fages (Salford), J-P Baile, W Barthau, T Margalet, M Pala, M Simon (St-Esteve XIII Catalan), B Jullien (Avignon), A Decarnin (Villeneuve-sur-Lot).
