Jacques Brunel has recalled Virimi Vakatawa to the France national team ahead of the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Vakatawa takes the place of injured centre Geoffrey Doumayrou who picked up an Achilles tendon injury during training last week.
The 27-year-old Fijian-born winger has now
been brought into France’s 31-man squad for the tournament, in what is his
first international call-up since February 2018 when he played during Les Blues
win over Scotland.
The winger had been preparing for the
upcoming Top 14 season with club Racing 92 but has come through multiple
medical checks with the French medical staff and will join-up with the rest of
the squad on Wednesday.
His inclusion has meant that once again surprise
exclusion from the original squad Mathieu Bastareaud has been overlooked as he
continues to prepare for his short-term stint in the Top 14 with Lyon ahead of
a move to the US.
Vakatawa and co will now prepare for their second
World Cup warm-up game against Scotland, whom they defeated 32-3 on Saturday in
what was an impressive start to their World Cup build-up.
France will need to continue in that vein if they are to progress from Pool C at the tournament where they will face England, Argentina, Tonga and the USA.
