BEN GARCIA will finish his career by leading France at the World Cup after being selected in Laurent Frayssinous’ 23-man squad.

The retiring Catalans Dragons star will appear in his fourth World Cup and a second as captain.

France haven’t escaped the group stage in either of the past two events and face a difficult task in the reduced ten-team tournament this time.

Either side of taking on England in Perth on October 24, Les Blues face Samoa (October 16) and Lebanon (November 1), both at Parramatta.

While Garcia is one of six Catalans players in their squad, the biggest representation comes from Toulouse Olympique.

Sylvain Houles’ side finished one place higher in Super League than their rivals, in eighth, and contribute eight players, including Dream Team forward Mathieu Jussaume.

Catalans do have a couple of incoming signings too though, in Hull FC’s Amir Bourouh and Arthur Romano.

Huddersfield-born hooker Bourouh is a newcomer to the French squad, qualifying through his father’s heritage.

Hull KR pair Arthur Mourgue and Jordan Dezaria make the cut alongside Mathieu Cozza from Huddersfield Giants.

There are also call-ups for South Sydney Rabbitohs back Latrell Siegwalt, who qualifies through his grandfather, and former Fiji international forward Joe Drodrolagi, who can represent France on residency grounds having played for Carcassonne since 2020.

Drodrolagi is among three players in the squad from France’s domestic Super XIII competition, alongside former captain Théo Fages – a title winner last season with Pia – and Albi’s Fouad Yaha.

From the original 40-man training group brought together by Frayssinous, forwards Justin Sangaré and Hugo Salabio are among those to miss out on the trip to Australia.

Frayssinous will join Catalans’ coaching team as an assistant coach to John Cartwright, working under Garcia who will be their new sporting director, when the World Cup finishes, although he intends to also carry on with the national team.

France squad: Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet (Catalans Dragons), Lambert Belmas (Toulouse Olympique), Amir Bourouh (Hull FC), Julian Bousquet (Catalans Dragons), Tiaki Chan (Toulouse Olympique), Mathieu Cozza (Huddersfield Giants), Alrix Da Costa (Catalans Dragons), Léo Darrélatour (Catalans Dragons), Jordan Dezaria (Hull KR), Joe Drodrolagi (Carcassonne), Théo Fages (Pia), Ben Garcia (Catalans Dragons), Louis Grossemy (Toulouse Olympique), Mathieu Jussaume (Toulouse Olympique), Thomas Lacans (Toulouse Olympique), Benjamin Laguerre (Toulouse Olympique), Arthur Mourgue (Hull KR), Romain Navarrete (Catalans Dragons), Arthur Romano (Hull FC), César Rougé (Toulouse Olympique), Latrell Siegwalt (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Roméo Tropis (Toulouse Olympique), Fouad Yaha (Albi).