women
international women
François Ratier called France The team weeks ahead of their team WXV Global Series opener against the Black Ferns on Sunday.
Both Chloé Jacquet and Kelly Arbey have previously won Tests, while Lili Dezou will make her international debut at outside centre. She partners Teana Fele in the midfield.
Dezou, 22, plays her club rugby for Stade Toulouse and represented her country at their home Olympics in 2024.
After announcing his squad, Ratier confirmed that the trio will only play in the first game of France’s WXV Global Series before returning to camp for seven.
In the second row, Julia Grosz has been named for her Test debut. The youngster joins the team with Madoussou Fall Raclot out of pregnancy, Kiara Zago injured and the team’s usual captain, Manae Feleu, continuing his medical studies.
Grosz partners with five caps of Siobhan Soqeta in the second row. Axelle Berthoumieu, Léa Champon and Charlotte Escudero make up the back row.
Pauline Bourdon Sansus, who is the back-up skipper while Feleu is away, starts at half-time and partners Carla Arbez.
Gloucester Hartpury center Gabrielle Vernier has been named among the replacements. The 29-year-old missed three women’s rounds Six Nations with a shoulder injury sustained against Wales.
France takes over a New Zealand team that can take heart from their efforts in 2026. Since Whitney Hansen arrived as head coach, the team has yet to lose and prepared for this weekend’s clash with a 52-20 win against South Africa Soweto.
François Ratier, head coach of France, said: “New Zealand are a fantastic team. They were world champions almost every time, but they fell a bit after they changed their style of play – and not for the better. Now they are back to a style that suits them better, with more power and, above all, more structure.
“They strike a balance between playing upright, playing high and landing in the match. They’re back. Their ambitions are clear, so we know what to expect – and we’ve prepared accordingly. When they attack, it’s planned, creative, determined and precise. That’s the standard we need to aim for too. We’re getting close.”
2026 WXV Global Series | Matchday 23 France v New Zealand
15 Chloe Jacquet
14 Kelly Arbey
13 Lili Dezou
12 to Theana Fele
11 Léa Murie
10 Kelly Arbez
9 Pauline Bourdon-Sansus (c)
1 Amber Mwayembe
2 Mathilde Lazarko
3 Assia Khalfaoui
4 Julia Grosz
5 Siobhan Soqeta
6 to Axelle Berthoumie
7 Léa Champon
8 Charlotte Escudero
Substitutions
16 Elisa Riffonneau
17 Yllana Brosseau
18 Annaëlle Deshaye
19 Cloe Correa
20 Khoudedia Cissokho
21 Alexandra Chambon
22 Lina Queiroi
23 Gabrielle Vernier
