Medard returns to French squad

Maxime Medard was recalled to the French squad for the Six Nations clash with wooden spoon favourites Italy on Tuesday after recovering from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of last weekend's loss to England.

The 24-year-old Toulouse star and France's leading tryscorer in the tournament this season with two was sorely missed in the 17-9 defeat at Twickenham which saw French hopes of repeating their Grand Slam success evaporate, though, they still entertain hopes of retaining the Six Nations title.

The return of Medard - capped 17 times - means Brive wing Alexis Palisson has been dropped from the squad.

Squad

Fowards:

Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Luc Ducalcon (Castres), Sylvain Marconnet (Biarritz), William Servat (Toulouse), Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Metro), Julien Pierre (Clermont), Jerome Thion (Biarritz), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Sebastien Chabal (Racing-Metro)

Backs

Morgan Parra (Clermont), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse), Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Bayonne), Maxime Medard (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Biarritz), Clement Poitrenaud (Toulouse)