La Rochelle's Alldritt Takes Charge: France Names New Captain for Six Nations

France’s number eight, Gregory Alldritt, has been appointed as the captain for the upcoming Six Nations tournament, taking over from Antoine Dupont, who will be absent as he joins France’s Sevens program to pursue participation in the Paris Olympics. Alldritt, the 26-year-old La Rochelle captain, has been a vital player for coach Fabien Galthie since his debut in 2019. The decision to name Alldritt captain was favored over former captain Charles Ollivon. Dupont’s on-field replacement will be either Maxime Lucu from Bordeaux Begles or the promising Nolann Le Garrec of Racing 92, who has made a notable impression this season. Galthie’s squad includes five uncapped players, namely Nicolas Depoortere, Antoine Gibert, Esteban Abadie, Matthias Halagahu, and Emmanuel Meafou. France, aiming to build on their second-place finish last season, kicks off their Six Nations campaign against Ireland on February 2 in Marseille. The squad comprises 22 players from France’s World Cup squad, with a total of 34 players selected.