Salford's Theo Fages is called into France squad ahead of World Cup

France coach Richard Agar has included Salford teenage scrum-half Theo Fages in his 24-man squad for the World Cup.

Fages, who turned 19 in August, was a leading light in the Reds' wooden-spoon year, playing in all but four of their 27 matches in his first Super League season.

The squad, as expected, is dominated by Catalan Dragons, who provide 15 players, while seven of the remainder have all played for the Perpignan club at some stage of their career.

They include Australian full-back Clint Greenshields, who is now with North Queensland but qualified in the past on residential grounds, and Catalan general manager Sebastien Raguin, who has continued his career with St Esteve after stepping down from Super League.

The team will be led by former Bradford and Wakefield forward Olivier Elima, with Remi Casty vice-captain.

France are due to play a warm-up match against the United States on October 18 before opening their World Cup campaign against Papua New Guinea in Hull on October 27.

France squad (Catalan Dragons unless stated): Jean-Philippe Baile, William Barthau, Andrew Bentley (Toulouse), Kane Bentley (Toulouse), Thomas Bosc, Remi Casty, Vincent Duport, Olivier Elima (capt), Morgan Escare, Theo Fages (Salford), Jamal Fakir, Tony Gigot (Avignon), Clint Greenshields (North Queensland), Younes Khattabi (Carcassonne), Kevin Larroyer, Antoni Maria, Gregory Mounis, Mathias Pala, Eloi Pelissier, Sebastien Raguin (St Esteve), Mickael Simon, Clement Soubeyras (Carcassonne), Cyril Stacul (Lezignan), Frederic Vaccari.