Casty restored as France captain

Catalans Dragons skipper Remi Casty has been restored as captain of France for the international against England in Avignon on Saturday, October 22.

The former Sydney Roosters prop was among a host of absentees when the French suffered an 84-4 humiliation in their last meeting with England in Leigh last October after missing the last two months of the season with a knee injury.

Casty is one of 11 Dragons players named in new coach Aurelien Cologni's 20-man squad for the game at Parc des Sports.

Catalans half-back Lucas Albert was among the players discarded from Cologni's initial 26-strong squad, along with St Helens scrum-half Theo Fages.

Wakefield prop Mickael Simon, Warrington second rower Benjamin Jullien, Castleford prop Gadwin Springer, Hull KR second rower Kevin Larroyer, and London Broncos scrum-half William Barthau are part of the reduced squad.