France include four uncapped players in Six Nations squad

France head coach Guy Noves has picked as many as four uncapped players in a 32-man squad that will take part in the upcoming 2017 Six Nations tournament next month.

La Rochelle prop Mohamed Boughanmi, Clermont Auvergne lock Arthur Iturria, Brive back-rower Fabien Sanconnie and Castres full-back Geoffrey Palis get their call-up for the first time as France look to win their first Six Nations tournament in seven years.

Northampton number eight Louis Picamoles will remain the only player in the squad plying his trade outside French leagues after moving to Northampton Saints last year.

France forwards coach Yannick Bru urged the team to bring out their best game, if they are to repeat their Grand Slam success which came way back in 2010 under Marc Lievremont's guidance.

"Areas we need to work on have been identified," said Bru. "Players know they must continue to work hard to compete with the best.

"They must be able to remain accurate, even when playing at high intensity. When you're pushed by the opponent, you commit errors - it is inescapable.

"But we must be able to maintain our poise when the heart beats hard.

"We want to keep on improving. To progress on our support play, our set-piece, our coordination.

"Our team has changed recently, with the emergence of new leaders. I saw positive things against the New Zealanders [in their 24-19 loss in the autumn], who are the best team in the world.

"We must continue this and we must have surgical precision at the rucks."

France will kick start their 2017 season when they travel to Twickenham to take on England on 4th February following which they will lock horns with Scotland, Ireland, Italy and Wales.

France squad for Six Nations 2017 tournament

Forwards: Atonio (La Rochelle), Baille (Stade Toulouse), Ben Arous (Racing 92), Boughanmi (La Rochelle), Le Devedec (Brive), Chat (Racing 92), Chouly (Clermont), Sanconnie (Brive), Slimani (Stade Francais), Maestri (Toulouse), Goujon (Bordeaux-Begles), Gourdon (La Rochelle), Guirado (Toulon), Picamoles (Northampton), Maynadier (Bordeaux-Begles), Iturria (Clermont), Vahaamahina (Clermont), Lakafia (Stade Francais).

Backs: Fickou (Toulouse), David (Toulouse), Doussain (Toulouse), Camara (Stade Francais), Fofana (Clermont), Huget (Toulouse), Lopez (Clermont), Palis (Castres), Lamerat (Clermont), Machenaud (Racing 92), Nakaitaci (Clermont), Serin (Bordeaux-Begles), Spedding (Clermont), Vakatawa (contracted to FFR).