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Paris - Scrumhalf Rory Kockott was called into the France squad to face Fiji, Australia and Argentina next month after the South African qualified to play for his adopted nation through residency rules, the French federation said on Sunday.
Castres Olympique player Kockott has been on Philippe Saint-Andre's radar for some time as the France coach regularly tinkers with his halfback line.
International Rugby Board (IRB) eligibility rules state that a player can play for a country he was born in, one parent or grandparent was born in or in which he has completed “36 consecutive months of residence immediately preceding the time of playing”. Kockott has lived in France for over three years.
Another foreign player, New Zealander prop Uini Atonio, also features in the 30-man squad
France will take on Fiji in Marseille on November 8 before taking on Australia at the Stade de France a week later and Argentina on November 22 also in Saint Denis.
France training squad:
Forwards: Xavier Chiocci (Toulon), Alexandre Menini (Toulon), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Benajmin Kayser (Clermont), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Français), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Français), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Papé (Stade Français), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), Virgile Bruni (Toulon), Yacouba Camara (Toulouse), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Bernard Le Roux (Racing), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Charles Ollivon (Bayonne).
Backs: Rory Kockott (Castres), Sébastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon), Camille Lopez (Clermont), Remi Tales (Castres), Pierre Bernard Bordeaux-Bègles), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Alexandre Dumoulin (Racing), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Maxime Medard (Toulouse), Teddy Thomas (Racing), Benjamin Fall (Montpellier), Brice Dulin (Racing).
