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MARCOUSSIS - Fullback Thomas Castaignede was a surprise omission from France's 30-man World Cup squad on Friday.
Bernard Laporte and the selectors named a squad without a captain and with only one fullback and three locks. But seven backrowers and three flyhalves were included for the tournament to
be played in September and October in France.
"Leaving Thomas on the sidelines was a difficult decision to make," team manager Jo Maso told a press conference.
Castaignede, who missed the 1999 World Cup after being injured in the first game and was dropped at the last minute in 2003, was pushed into early retirement at 32 by Laporte's decision to select only one fullback, Clement Poitrenaud.
"We have several options at fullback. (Centre) Damien Traille started as a fullback, (wing) Cedric Heymans held the position for a year with Agen, (wing) Christophe Dominici was in our 2006 Six Nations squad as a fullback," he said.
Number eight Sebastien Chabal, whose inclusion had not been certain, was among the 17 forwards named. Laporte said he had been selected as a lock and not a backrower.
"I talked to him this morning and he accepted the possibility of playing second row," the French coach said.
Chabal's selection meant Pascal Pape, who captained the team for the New Zealand tour, was dropped.
Maso said that the selectors had postponed the appointment of a World Cup captain.
"We'll decide at the start of the World Cup," Maso said. The two candidates are Fabien Pelous who held the post until he was seriously injured last December and Raphael Ibanez, who covered for him and led France to victory in the last Six Nations."
First five-eighths Frederic Michalak was also back in the squad despite being sidelined for internationals this year due to injuries.
Prop Sylvain Marconnet was also named even though he has not resumed training after breaking a leg in March.
Squad:
Backs: Pierre Mignoni, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Frederic Michalak, David Skrela, Lionel Beauxis, Yannick Jauzion, Damien Traille, David Marty, Christophe Dominici, Cedric Heymans, Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Clement Poitrenaud
Forwards: Pieter de Villiers, Sylvain Marconnet, Olivier Milloud, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Raphael Ibanez, Sebastien Bruno, Dimitri Szarzewski, Sebastien Chabal, Fabien Pelous, Jerome Thion, Lionel Nallet, Serge Betsen, Julien Bonnaire, Imanol Harinordoquy, Elvis Vermeulen, Yannick Nyanga, Remy Martin.