France's Marc Lièvremont has gather 33 players at their training facility at Marcoussis, Paris, to start their preparations for the World Cup.
France's opening match is on 10 September against Japan but there is a lot of work and organisation at various locations before that. The players have had a three-week lay-off after the end of the Top 14 there are still men in doubt.
Those in doubt at present are three-quarter Aurélien Rougerie (foot), prop Thomas Domingo (knee), hooker William Servat (knee), hooker Dimitri Szarzewski (Achilles), prop Fabien Barcella (Achilles), centre Maxime Mermoz (shoulder) and utility back Damien Traille (foot). Rougerie and Domingo are recovering from operations down in Saint-Raphaël in the South East.
France's Programme of Preparation
28 June - 8 July: at the Centre National de Rugby at Marcoussis, Paris
Saturday 9 - Tuesday 19 July: training at Chambon-sur-Lignon (Haute-Loire)
Tuesday 19 - Sunday 24 July: rest
Sunday 24 - Sunday 31 July: training at Falgos (Pyrénées-Orientales)
Sunday 31 July - Friday 5 August: training at the Centre National de Rugby at Marcoussis, Paris
Friday 5 - Wednesday 10 August: rest
Wednesday 10 - Friday 12 August: training in Gironde
Saturday 13 August: Warm-up match vs Ireland in Bordeaux (kick-off 20.45)
Sunday 14 - Sunday 21 August: training in Ireland
Saturday 20 August: Warm-up match vs Ireland in Dublin (kick-off 18.00)
Monday 22 August: announcement of 30 players
Monday 22 - Saturday 27 August: rest
Sunday 28 August: departure for New Zealand
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