Sadourny, who plays for Colomiers, has seen his form slump in recent months after battling back from a serious knee ligament injury last season which sidelined him for several months.

He struggled badly during France's disastrous summer tour to the southern hemisphere which ended in defeat to Tonga and a 54-7 record loss to the All Blacks.

But he and Benetton, from Agen, could be recalled in time for the event, which begins in October. The squad will be trimmed back by September 1.

Emerging players to make the 30 include Stade Francais' prop of South African origin, Pieter de Villiers, and Toulouse centre Cedric Desbrosse.

Provisional squad:

Forwards:
Christian Califano (Stade Toulousain), Franck Tournaire (Stade Toulousain), Peter De Villiers (Stade Francais), Cedric Soulette (Beziers), Raphael Ibanez (capt, Perpignan), Marc Dal Maso (Colomiers), Fabien Pelous (Stade Toulousain), Olivier Brouzet (Begles-Bordeaux), Abdelatif Benazzi (Agen), David Auradou (Stade Francais), Olivier Magne (Brive), Marc Lievremont (Stade Francais), Lionel Mallier (Brive), Arnaud Costes (Montferrand), Christophe Juillet (Stade Francais), Thomas Lievremont (Perpignan).