Bernard le Roux and Paul Willemse have been included in a 37-man France squad that will begin preparations for this year’s World Cup.

The called-up players have been split in two groups: a 31-man World Cup squad and six-man standby squad.

The 30-year-old Le Roux, who plays across the back row and lock, has been named in the official World Cup squad, while the 26-year-old Willemse is one of those placed on standby in case of an injury.

Besides the inclusion of the South African-born duo, who have both been capped, France coach Jacques Brunel has placed his faith in uncapped trio Alivereti Raka, Peato Mauvaka and Emerick Setiano, who have all been selected in the main squad.

Veterans Morgan Parra (scrumhalf) and Mathieu Bastareaud (centre) as well as Uini Atonio (prop) and Teddy Thomas (wing) have been left out of the squad altogether.

France squad – Gregory Alldritt, Demba Bamba, Yacouba Camara, Camille Chat, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Antoine Dupont, Gaël Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Paul Gabrillagues, Guilhen Guirado, Yoann Huget, Arther Iturria, Félix Lambey, Wencesles Laurent, Bernard le Roux, Camille Lopez, Maxime Medard, Peato Mauvaka, Maxime Machenaud, Romain Ntamack, Damian Penaud, Louis Picamoles, Jefferson Poitor, Dany Priso, Alivereti Raka, Thomas Ramos, Baptiste Serin, Emerick Setiano, Rabah Slimani, Sébastien Vahaamahina.

 Players on standby – Anthony Belleau, François Cros, Etienne Falgoux, Charles Ollivon, Vincent Rattez, Paul Willemse.

Photo: Dave Winter/Getty Images