Cape Town - South African-born Scott Spedding has been called up by France for the first time ahead of their November Tests against Fiji, Australia and Argentina.
The 28-year-old, who spent three seasons with the Sharks and represented South Africa at age-group level, has replaced the injured Brice Dulin who has been ruled out for up to seven weeks after he suffered a stress fracture in his leg.
Spedding currently plays for French club Bayonne and has recently been granted French citizenship. He joins fellow South African, Rory Kockott, in the France squad. Both could make their debuts against Fiji.
France squad:
Forwards: Xavier Chiocci (Toulon), Alexandre Menini (Toulon), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Rabah Slimani (Stade Francais), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Francais), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Bernard Le Roux (Racing-Metro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Charles Ollivon (Bayonne)
Backs: Rory Kockott (Castres), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon), Remi Tales (Castres), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Camille Lopez (Clermont), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Remi Lamerat (Castres), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Teddy Thomas (Racing-Metro), Sofiane Guitoune (Bordeaux-Begles), Benjamin Fall (Montpellier), Scott Spedding (Bayonne), Yoann Huget (Toulouse)
The 28-year-old, who spent three seasons with the Sharks and represented South Africa at age-group level, has replaced the injured Brice Dulin who has been ruled out for up to seven weeks after he suffered a stress fracture in his leg.
Spedding currently plays for French club Bayonne and has recently been granted French citizenship. He joins fellow South African, Rory Kockott, in the France squad. Both could make their debuts against Fiji.
France squad:
Forwards: Xavier Chiocci (Toulon), Alexandre Menini (Toulon), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Rabah Slimani (Stade Francais), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Francais), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Bernard Le Roux (Racing-Metro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Charles Ollivon (Bayonne)
Backs: Rory Kockott (Castres), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon), Remi Tales (Castres), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Camille Lopez (Clermont), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Remi Lamerat (Castres), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Teddy Thomas (Racing-Metro), Sofiane Guitoune (Bordeaux-Begles), Benjamin Fall (Montpellier), Scott Spedding (Bayonne), Yoann Huget (Toulouse)