France coach Marc Lievremont has rested a handful of his senior players due to their ‘weariness’ for their tour to South Africa and Argentina.
Hooker William Servat and lock Sebastien Chabal are the biggest names to be handed a rest, but the RBS 6 Nations champions retain the core of the squad that secured the Grand Slam.
Powerful Biarritz prop Fabien Barcella is recalled after missing the Six Nations through injury, with the Toulouse trio of lock Romain Millo-Chluski, number eight Louis Picamoles, fly-half David Skrela and Perpignan centre Maxime Mermoz the other players to earn recalls.
Skrela's call-up is his first since November 2008, with his recent good form, including a try in the Heineken Cup semi-final victory over Leinster, booking his seat on the plane.
There are two uncapped players in the 30-man party in the form of Biarritz flanker Wenceslas Lauret and Perpignan full-back Jerome Porical.
Speaking of his decision to rest players Lievremont told the French Rugby Federation website: ‘William (Servat) has played for two or three seasons without a break and we want him to have the chance of a real pre-season to prepare him for next season.
‘Sebastien (Chabal) has a back problem and has been struggling to recover from it. We want to give him time to heal.’
Clermont Auvergne back-rower Alexandre Lapandry and Bayonne winger Benjamin Fall also miss the tour.
‘Lapandry needs to start doing a lot of work to build muscle and make him more competitive, and Benjamin Fall is recovering from injury,’ said Lievremont.
Winger Alexis Palisson, fly-half Fabrice Estebanez and flankers Fulgence Ouedraogo and Antoine Burban are also omitted after their clubs refused to release them to play for the France Sevens team, with Lievremont feeling the players should have honoured their selection.
Les Bleus face the Springboks in Cape Town on June 12 before moving on to Argentina to face a provincial side on June 18. The tour culminates with a Test against the Pumas in Buenos Aires on June 26.
France squad to tour South Africa and Argentina:
Forwards: F Barcella (Biarritz), T Domingo (Clermont Auvergne), L Ducalcon (Castres), N Mas (Perpignan), J-B Poux (Toulouse), G Guirado (Perpignan), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Racing Metro), Romain Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), P Pape (Stade Francais), Julien Pierre (Clermont Auvergne), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), T Dusautoir (Toulouse, captain), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), W Lauret (Biarritz), L Picamoles (Toulouse).
Backs: M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), D Yachvili (Biarritz), D Skrela (Toulouse), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Bastareaud (Stade Francais), D Marty (Perpignan), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), M Mermoz (Perpignan), M Andreu (Castres), V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne), C Poitrenaud (Toulouse), J Porical (Perpignan).
