Six nations vice captain Bastareaud not in Rugby World Cup squad
Mathieu Bastareaud has not been named in coach Jacques Brunel's France Rugby World Cup panel
The bruising centre was vice-captain for the 2019 Six Nations Championship but has not made the cut for Japan. Brunel named a 31-man panel with a further six players named as reserves.
Competition
Centre Bastareaud, 30, has captained Les Bleus in the absence of Guilhem Guirado in the recent past.
"He is in a position full of competition with players in form. I'm thinking of Sofiane Guitoune who has been very good," Brunel said.
"I wasn't sure if Guitoune could keep up his form during the whole season but he did," he added.
The dropping of Bastareaud comes on the back of his decision to sign on loan with an American Major League Rugby side, Rugby United New York, for next season.
Morgan Parra's injury means he had no time to stake a claim for a scrum-half berth on the panel. While Racing 92 wing Teddy Thoams and giant prop Uini Atonio are also among those not included by Brunel.
France get their World Cup underway against Argentina on September 21st in Sapporo.
France World Cup squad
Forwards (17): Gregory Alldritt, Demba Bamba, Yacouba Camara, Camille Chat, Paul Gabrillagues, Guilhem Guirado, Arthur Iturria, Felix Lambey, Wenceslas Lauret, Bernard Le Roux, Peato Mauvaka, Jefferson Poirot, Louis Picamoles, Dany Priso, Emerick Setiano, Rabah Slimani, Sebastien Vahaamahina
Backs (14): Geoffrey Doumayrou, Antoine Dupont, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Sofiane Guitoune, Yoann Huget, Camille Lopez, Maxime Machenaud, Maxime Medard, Romain Ntamack, Damian Penaud, Alivereti Raka, Thomas Ramos, Baptiste Serin
Reserves (6): Anthony Belleau, Francois Cros, Etienne Falgoux, Charles Ollivon, Vincent Rattez, Paul Willemse
