Rugby World Cup: France's women's team led by Manae Feleu, Marine Ménager and Pauline Bourdon Sansus in England

"I think we're all ready for the result. But it's a source of stress, we'll be relieved when we know." On the eve of the announcement of the list of 32 French players who will compete in the Women's Rugby World Cup in England (from August 22 to September 27), Léa Champon struggled to hide her excitement. The Grenoble third row can finally rest assured. On Saturday, August 2, the coaching duo of Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz mentioned their name from the National Rugby Center (CNR) in Marcoussis (Essonne) alongside others more expected, such as captains Manae Feleu and Marine Ménager, or scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus. Winner of the last three editions of the Elite 1 – the French championship – Stade Bordelais is the most represented club, with 12 players.

Ultimately, it's a young selection that will head to Exeter, where France will play its first match against Italy on Saturday, August 23. Only two thirty-somethings (hookers Manon Bigot and Agathe Gérin) will be part of the adventure, as will three novices, one of whom, Makarita Baleinadogo, is particularly unexpected. The 23-year-old Bordeaux prop was not in the pre-list of 38 players, but is ultimately making the trip at the last minute, after Ambre Mwayembe's injury on Thursday.

The latter was forced to withdraw from the World Cup, having suffered a fracture to the malleolus of her right leg during training. The former Grenoble player, recently recruited by Stade Toulousain, is a key player in the French XV despite her 21 years, and notably participated in all the matches of the last Six Nations Tournament, which France finished in second place, behind England.

While Makarita Baleinadogo may be smiling, six of them – in addition to Mwayembe – were disappointed on Saturday. Océane Bordes (2 caps), Lili Dezou (0 caps), Mélissande Llorens Vigneres (14 caps), Emeline Gros (37 caps), Clara Joyeux (48 caps) and Laure Touyé (29 caps) all remain on the sidelines, even though a good number of them were among the most capped players in the squad. Touyé, Joyeux and Gros were notably in New Zealand in 2022, during the last World Cup.

Winger Kelly Arbey – who scored a solo try against England in the last Six Nations Tournament – is also in the squad. On Friday, the Toulouse player was certain that the group would remain "united" in the announcement of the list, and that "the competition between the players was not unhealthy." In any case, the staff did not give them time to think about the list by offering them "an endless day" on Friday, including a two-hour training session where "everyone gave it their all." In the evening, a good number of former French XV players, including the best player in 2018, Jessy Trémoulière, came to share their experience around a barbecue.