Six Nations 2016: Bastareaud left out of France squad

Mathieu Bastareaud has scored three tries in 39 international appearances

Mathieu Bastareaud has been left out of the 31-man France Six Nations squad.

The 27-year-old Toulon centre, who has 39 caps, had been omitted from two previous informal gatherings organised by new coach Guy Noves.

"We want to build a team who will be able to improve a lot and not taking players who would not be with us in two or three years," Noves said.

France start their Six Nations campaign against Italy in Paris on 6 February with Guilhem Guirado their new captain.

They lost 62-13 to New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup in October.

Ireland won the Six Nations in 2015 on eight points, with France finishing fourth on four points.

France squad for Six Nations

Forwards: Uini Atonio, Eddy Ben Arous, Antoine Burban, Yacouba Camara, Camille Chat, Damien Chouly, Alessandre Flanquart, Kevin Gourdon, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Paul Jedrasiak, Wenceslas Lauret, Yoann Maestri, Louis Picamoles, Jefferson Poirot, Rabah Slimani, Sebastien Vahaamahina

Backs: Sebastien Bezy, Hugo Bonneval, Jonathan Danty, Jean-Marc Doussain, Alexandre Dumoulin, Benjamin Fall, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Remi Lamerat, Maxime Machenaud, Maxime Medard, Morgan Parra, Jules Plisson, Scott Spedding, Virimi Vakatawa