Rugby: French captain rested from All Blacks series

Guilhem Guirado of France. Photo /Getty

Just like the All Blacks, France will be without their regular captain for the June test series.

Skipper Guilhem Guirado wasn't named in the 32-man squad announced overnight with 45-test veteran Mathieu Bastareaud expected to captain the side.

The All Blacks will also have a stand-in captain with Sam Whitelock taking over the duties from the injured Kieran Read.

Just seven players who started against the All Blacks in Paris last November are in the squad.

The French squad also includes Timaru-born prop Uini Atonio, who went to South Auckland's Wesley College. Atonio, who has played for La Rochelle since 2011, is set to match-up against the All Blacks for a second time after facing the haka in 2016.

Along with Guirado, a long number of experienced names have been left out of the tour due to injuries including Louis Picamoles, Virimi Vakatawa, Lionel Beauxis, Yacouba Camara, Baptiste Couilloud, Brice Dulin, Yoann Huget, Arthur Iturria, Paul Jedrasiak, Maxime Machenaud, Geoffrey Palis, Marco Tauleigne and Francois Trinh-Duc.

The test series begins on June 9 at Eden Park.

France, currently ranked eighth in the world, have lost their last 11 tests to the All Blacks and finshed fourth in the recent Six Nations with two wins and three defeats.

France squad for tour of New Zealand: Uini Atonio, Mathieu Babillot, Cyril Baille, Mathieu Bastareaud, Anthony Belleau, Eddy Ben Arous, Hugo Bonneval, Pierre Bougarit, Camille Chat, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Benjamin Fall, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana Paul Gabrillagues, Kelian Galletier, Cedate Gomes Sa, Kevin Gourdon, Remy Grosso, Felix Lambey, Remi Lamerat, Alexandre Lapandry, Bernard Le Roux, Yoann Maestri, Maxime Medard, Morgan Parra, Adrien Pelissie, Jules Plisson, Dany Priso, Fabien Sanconnie, Baptiste Serin, Rabah Slimani, Teddy Thomas.