Élodie Fernandez at fly-half, four new caps: the French women’s team lineup for their first WXV match in New Zealand city
For the first of its three WXV matches in New Zealand city, this Saturday in Hamilton by (4:05 am), the French team will be led by the inexperienced Élodie Fernandez at fly-half, partnered with the new captain Alexandra Chambon at half-back. François Ratier has also selected four players who have yet to earn a cap.
After their first three matches in France against New Zealand with (14-28), Australia with (29-26), and Canada with (21-5), the French women’s rugby team continues their WXV program in New Zealand this month again. They will play the first of their three matches against the Black Ferns in Hamilton on this Saturday by (4:05 am).
For this match, coach François Ratier has made a few lineup changes. The main one concerns the halfback pairing, as Élodie Fernandez will wear the team number 10 jersey for her second cap, and her first as a starter. She will partner with the new captain of Les Bleues, Alexandra Chambon.
Bourgeois returns to the rear
Behind her, Aubane Rousset returns to the center position after missing the September tests due to a concussion. The fullback Morgane Bourgeois will also be in the starting lineup for the first time since the 2025 World Cup competition. In 2026, she was overtaken in the pecking order by Pauline Barrat during the Six Nations and then by Chloé Jacquet and Émilie Boulard in recent weeks.
In the forwards, Ratier has opted to rely on the back row that won Canada at the end of September, with the trio of Axelle Berthoumieu, Léa Champon, and Mouna Touré, who was excellent in the lineout during her last outing game. The main new addition comes in the second row, a position that has been under pressure for the French team, with Ylona Avril receiving her first cap alongside Julia Grosz.
The Montpellier native is (25 years old) will not be alone in discovering the international level since three newcomers have been placed on the bench side: the prop Marion Latonnelle is (27 years old), the scrum-half Lylou Pédussaud (18 years old) and the versatile three-quarter Charlie Gauyat (19 years old).
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