France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre has omitted Clermont Auvergne fly-half Camille Lopez and Racing Metro wing Teddy Thomas from a 36-man World Cup training squad announced on Tuesday.
Lopez and Thomas were both involved during the RBS 6 Nations campaign this season, but they have failed to make Saint-Andre’s initial World Cup selection.
Racing scrum-half Maxime Machenaud is another notable absentee, with Sebastien Tillous-Borde, Morgan Parra and Rory Kockott battling it out for the number nine shirt, while Francois Trinh-Duc, Frederic Michalak and Remi Tales are Saint-Andre’s current fly-half options.
Lock Pascal Pape, meanwhile, is recalled after serving a 10-week ban imposed in February after he was cited for kneeing Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip in the back during a Six Nations Test.
France will play World Cup warm-up games against England at Twickenham and in Paris during August, before concluding their preparations against Scotland on September 5.
Les Bleus’ opening World Cup fixture is against Italy at Twickenham on September 19.
France World Cup training squad:
Backs — S Spedding, B Dulin, S Guitoune, N Nakaitaci, Y Huget, A Dumoulin, G Fickou, R Lamerat, W Fofana, M Bastareaud, F Trinh-Duc, F Michalak, R Tales, S Tillous-Borde, M Parra, R Kockott.
Forwards — E Ben Arous, V Debaty, U Atonio, X Chiocci, N Mas, R Slimani, G Guirado, B Kayser, D Szarzewski, A Flanquart, Y Maestri, P Pape, S Vahaamahina, T Dusautoir (capt), D Chouly, B Le Roux, Y Nyanga, L Picamoles, F Ouedroago, L Goujon.
