Aussie duo get call up for France
Barely three years after saying "au revoir" to the Brisbane Broncos, Casey McGuire has been named in the French squad for the Four Nations rugby league tournament.
Qualifying under the residency clause, the ex-Broncos utility joins fellow Australian-born player Clint Greenshields in the 23-man squad.
McGuire - whose six-year, 115-game Broncos stint concluded with the 2006 NRL premiership - and ex-St George Illawarra fullback Greenshields both play for France-based Catalans Dragons in the Super League.
They were recently cleared by the international federation to play for France after meeting the criteria of playing three seasons in France.
They would have missed out by one month if the international federation had decided they could only play for France if they had been in the country for three years.
The pair are among 16 Catalans Dragons players in the French squad after the team narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Super League grand final under Australian coach Kevin Walters.
France's Australian contingent could have been boosted to three if not for ex-Queensland Origin flyer Adam Mogg's decision to pull out because his partner is expecting a baby.
France - to be captained by Catalans Dragons forward Olivier Elima - kick off their tournament against England at Doncaster on October 23.
They then host New Zealand in Toulouse and Australia in Paris.
McGuire is set to face former Broncos teammates Darren Lockyer, Justin Hodges and Sam Thaiday when France line up against Australia on November 7.
France had been looking to bolster their ranks with Australian-bred players after being thrashed 66-12 by England at Paris in June in a worrying sign ahead of the Four Nations.
France's Four Nations squad: Jean-Philippe Baile, Kane Bentley, Thomas Bosc, Remi Casty, Vincent Duport, Olivier Elima (capt), Jamal Fakir, David Ferriol, Mathieu Griffi, Romain Gagliazzo, Cyril Gossard, Clint Greenshields, Maxime Greseque, Casey McGuire, Sebastien Martins, Christophe Moly, Dimitri Pelo, Sebastien Raguin, Teddy Saddaoui, Cyril Stacul, Julien Touxagas, Frederic Vaccari, Constant Villegas.
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