France recalled Thomas Castaignede and Thomas Lievremont to an extended squad of 30 players ahead of their Six Nations match against Italy at the Stade de France on Satruday week.
"We just talked to Thomas, he said he had fully recovered and would play at the weekend with his Saracens club," manager Jo Maso said. "Thomas made a brilliant comeback in November. He can play at flyhalf, centre or fullback - for the time being we think of him as a fullback."
The 31-year-old who has 47 caps missed France's Six Nations matches against Scotland and Ireland because of a leg injury suffered early in January.
Castaignede made his international debut in 1995 and was arguably the world's best flyhalf at the end of the 1990s but his career has been marred by injuries since. He came back to international action in November as a replacement against Australia and started the next three tests, all won by France, against Canada, Tonga and South Africa.
After recalling hooker Raphael Ibanez and flanker Olivier Magne against Ireland, following a shock 20-16 defeat by Scotland, the French selectors named flanker Serge Betsen and number eight Lievremont in the squad for the Italy game.
Biarritz flanker Thierry Dusautoir is the only newcomer. "We wanted to select him in July and in November but he was ruled out through injuries. We are glad to give him a new opportunity to prove his worth," Maso said.
Coach Bernard Laporte confirmed that Fabien Pelous was "still the captain of the team" despite the defeat against Scotland and the second half collapse which nearly cost France a win over Ireland last weekend. France won 43-31.
"I don't see why Fabien should be sacked," he said. "Our problems against Scotland and Ireland were collective. Fabien is not the only one responsible and neither is (flyhalf) Frederic Michalak."
The team will assemble on Sunday with the starting line-up being announced next Wednesday.
France squad:
Forwards: Pieter de Villiers, Sylvain Marconnet, Olivier Milloud, Nicolas Mas, Raphael Ibanez, Sebastien Bruno, Fabien Pelous (captain), Jerome Thion, Lionel Nallet, Pascal Pape, Yannick Nyanga, Thomas Lievremont, Remy Martin, Julien Bonnaire, Olivier Magne, Thierry Dusautoir, Serge Betsen
Backs: Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Dimitri Yachvili, Frederic Michalak, Benjamin Boyet, Florian Fritz, David Marty, Yannick Jauzion, Damien Traille, Ludovic Valbon, Cedric Heymans, Christophe Dominici, Thomas Castaignede. Nicolas Brusque.
