Illtud Dafydd
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Illtud Dafydd
@illtuddafydd.bsky.social
Francophone gallois | Sports Journalist/ Newyddiadurwr Chwaraeon with Agence France-Presse | Paris | illtud.dafydd@afp.com | Jouez: The French Rugby Dispatch on Substack
These selection choices will be the subject of this week's Substack

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It will be out tomorrow!

#FRAvIRE #SixNations
France's final open training session until Sunday has just finished

Here's the 23

Ollivon at second-row
UBB 10-13
6-2 bench
January 28, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Hearing from La Rochelle it was pretty serious

The word "lucky" was used by a source at the club

#Top14
France and La Rochelle tight-head Uni Atonio is forced to retire after a heart attack

He’s stable but remains in intensive care

Force à lui!
January 28, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Reposted by Illtud Dafydd
Confirmed as dissent, after the final whistle
January 28, 2026 at 10:37 AM
January 28, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Winger Perry Mayo signs a new deal with Nevers

He's the #ProD2's joint-leading scorer with 10 this season and has beaten more defenders (65) than anyone else

Aged just 23 and I wouldn't be shocked if some #Top14 clubs had been sniffing around him
January 28, 2026 at 9:51 AM
France and La Rochelle tight-head Uni Atonio is forced to retire after a heart attack

He’s stable but remains in intensive care

Force à lui!
January 28, 2026 at 8:38 AM
"Some say there's less enthusiasm towards the idea of going to Marcouiss"

I haven't seen these type of 'leaks' during Galthie's tenure before

#SixNations
January 26, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Interesting this from Sud-Ouest

Murmerings of discontent from the France squad towards Fabien Galthie's methods

A group of players went to see him after the South Africa loss claiming they had been "low on energy" & questioned the tactics against the Boks

www.sudouest.fr/sport/rugby/...
XV de France. Interrogations, frustration : Galthié doit relancer l’adhésion en interne et un projet qui s’essouffle
En ayant pris des décisions fortes en termes managériales, le sélectionneur entend redynamiser un projet qui montre des signes d’essoufflement. Mais après une tournée de novembre durant laquelle plusi...
www.sudouest.fr
January 26, 2026 at 8:34 PM
France hold their first open training session of the #SixNations tomorrow

The players could well be seen in No. 1-23 bibs

Here's my possible 23 for #FRAvIRE, plenty of questions, especially since Atonio & Boudehent's injuries
January 26, 2026 at 8:28 PM
According to Midi Olympique England assistant coach Joe El Abd has "said no" to the Brive job

#ProD2
January 26, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Had a coffee/ Perrier with Abdelatif Benazzi for a piece looking ahead to the #SixNations today

His first question for the Welshman in Paris: "What do you make of the Cardiff takeover?"...
January 26, 2026 at 8:04 PM
After Sud-Ouest claimed Aaron Smith is on a Pau shortlist for scrum-halves for next season, Midi Olympique reports Perpignan are interested in Braydon Ennor & Castres are looking at Dalton Papali'i

#Top14
January 26, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Not sure about the trousers and trainers sorry Faz
January 26, 2026 at 7:58 PM
This is the most direct the ever-philosophical Galthie has been for a while

18 months out and 20 games to go until #RWC2027, is it too late to blood "new blood"?
Fabien Galthie on dropping Penaud/ Alldritt/ Fickou

"France need new blood [...] At the start of my tenure I chose consvervatism to gain collective experience. After six years, it's time to find an evolution between this conservatism and innovation"

#SixNations
January 26, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Fabien Galthie on dropping Penaud/ Alldritt/ Fickou

"France need new blood [...] At the start of my tenure I chose consvervatism to gain collective experience. After six years, it's time to find an evolution between this conservatism and innovation"

#SixNations
January 26, 2026 at 7:35 PM
"We have a favourable tournament with three home games, we know the quality the competition requires and it's up us to be at that quality to try and win it again this year"

Antoine Dupont to Canal+ on the #SixNations
January 24, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Dupont on his facial injury

"I suffered a blow to the jaw, it's nothing nasty"

Via Canal+
A stroll for Toulouse

Worrying images at half-time though as Antoine Dupont gets attention from the medical staff on his face in the changing room

#Top14
January 24, 2026 at 10:06 PM
FT: 59-22

Toulouse are now six points clear at the summit

Mola missing up to 12 France players during the #SixNations

#Top14
A stroll for Toulouse

Worrying images at half-time though as Antoine Dupont gets attention from the medical staff on his face in the changing room

#Top14
January 24, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Toulouse lead 19-12

Pau having a right go at Ernest Wallon, and it's got a bit niggle to it, even Antoine Dupont ALMOST got yellow carded

If you can, get watching!

#Top14
First v second to finish off the day

That Pau backline is special

Plenty of France squad members in there too

#Top14
January 24, 2026 at 8:31 PM
France prop Tevita Tatafu came off the bench for Bayonne today in his first game since May

The 23-year-old is handy back-up for Uini Atonio chez Les Bleus

#Top14
January 24, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Reposted by Illtud Dafydd
Josh Adams looked very pleased with the chants of "Fuck Y11, we don't want your dirty money" near us
January 24, 2026 at 8:00 PM
First v second to finish off the day

That Pau backline is special

Plenty of France squad members in there too

#Top14
January 24, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Pretty cool this

Pau scrum-half Thibault Daubagna with a live interview on Canal+ in the middle of the warm-up before the game at Toulouse

#Top14
January 24, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Matthieu Jalibert on Damian Penaud's France #SixNations axe:

"I felt he's been affected a bit, not being in the 42 means a lot for him, it will give him a boost to work [...] I'm not worried for the future, he'll come back quickly"

Via Canal+
January 24, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Another week, another incredible Castres away win

They end Bayonne's unbeaten home run in the #Top14, which stretched back to June 2024

Last time CO won two games on the bounce on the road was 12 months ago
January 24, 2026 at 6:29 PM