French Rugby Coach Fabien Galthié Surprises with Key Omissions from Six Nations Roster

French rugby fans and analysts were taken aback on January 20, 2026, as head coach Fabien Galthié revealed the 42-player roster for the upcoming Six Nations tournament without including three of the national team's stalwarts: Damian Penaud, Gaël Fickou, and Grégory Alldritt. These notable absences have raised significant questions about Galthié's selection strategy ahead of the tournament beginning February 5 against Ireland.

Damian Penaud, 29, France's all-time leading try-scorer with 40 tries in 59 caps, had an impressive current season tally of 8 tries in 16 matches but was nonetheless excluded. His omission follows a recent period where he was sidelined during a Six Nations match for perceived lack of commitment, casting doubt on his current standing with the coach. Gaël Fickou, the team's most capped active player with 98 appearances and 17 tries, was equally surprisingly left out despite featuring in 12 matches this season.

Equally shocking was the exclusion of Grégory Alldritt, who has been a mainstay for Stade Rochelais and France. The 28-year-old, with 58 caps and having served as captain in recent matches against Fiji and Australia, has played 17 games this season. His absence sparked intense debate among supporters and experts given his leadership role and consistency.

Though Galthié has yet to fully disclose his reasoning, speculation includes a planned rotation to manage player workload during an especially demanding 2026 calendar, including the new Nations Championship. The coach is scheduled to address the media soon to clarify these controversial selections.

The French squad now looks markedly different as it prepares to face Ireland on February 5 in the Six Nations opener, marking a significant turning point in team composition and strategy under Galthié's leadership.