France rest captain Guilhem Guirado for New Zealand Test series

(Photo: Getty Images)
By Jake Jones
France have rested captain Guilhem Guirado for their summer tour of New Zealand with Mathieu Bastareaud expected to stand in as skipper for the three-Test series.
Flanker Wenceslas Lauret is also rested but centre Wesley Fofana makes his return after an injury-racked 18 months on the sidelines while there is also a place for Morgan Parra.
“This tour of New Zealand against the All Blacks is a wonderful challenge that we are eager to meet,” said France coach Jacques Brunel.
“This is the ideal opportunity for us to make a final review of the squad and to see new players join the France squad before this pre-World Cup season begins.
“Certain players in this squad had that opportunity and seized it at the last tournament when we had to make several replacements, and are still with us.
“During this tour, others can mount comebacks or take their chance because the upcoming season will see the squad tighten up for the November internationals and the 2019 Six Nations in anticipation of the Rugby World Cup in Japan.”
France squad for tour of New Zealand: Uini Atonio, Mathieu Babillot, Cyril Baille, Mathieu Bastareaud, Anthony Belleau, Eddy Ben Arous, Hugo Bonneval, Pierre Bougarit, Camille Chat, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Benjamin Fall, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana Paul Gabrillagues, Kelian Galletier, Cedate Gomes Sa, Kevin Gourdon, Remy Grosso, Felix Lambey, Remi Lamerat, Alexandre Lapandry, Bernard Le Roux, Yoann Maestri, Maxime Medard, Morgan Parra, Adrien Pelissie, Jules Plisson, Dany Priso, Fabien Sanconnie, Baptiste Serin, Rabah Slimani, Teddy Thomas.