Theo Fages (C) will skipper France
Theo Fages (C) will skipper France

France name eight Catalan Dragons in squad for World Cup


France coach Aurelien Cologni has included eight players from Catalans Dragons in his 24-man squad for the 2017 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The Dragons contingent includes forward Nabil Djalout, who has made just one Super League appearance, while Australian full-back Mark Kheirallah, who qualifies on residency, is one of three representatives from Championship club Toulouse.

There is also a place for Hull's new signing Hakim Miloudi, who spent the latter end of the 2017 season with Doncaster after moving from Carcassonne.

St Helens half-back Theo Fages will captain the team in the absence of Catalans prop Remi Casty, who is sidelined with a broken hand.

France open their campaign against Lebanon in Canberra on October 29 and play Australia in their second group A match a week later before taking on England in Perth on November 12.

They are 250/1 outsiders with Sky Bet to win the tournament, in a market headed by joint hosts Australia (4/11) and New Zealand who are 4/1 with England 13/2.

Squad: J Bousquet, T Margalet, B Garcia, J Baitieri, L Albert, F Yaha, N Djalout, R Navarrete (all Catalans Dragons), B Ader, C Boyer, M Kheirallah (all Toulouse), W Barthau, J Boudebza (both London Broncos), O Arnaud, G Bonnet (both Avignon), D Cardace (Lezignan), T Fages (St Helens, capt), M Herold, M Rouch (both Limoux), B Jullien (Warrington), A Maria, E Pelissier (both Leigh), H Miloudi (Hull), G Springer (Castleford).

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