Patrick Tabacco has been called up as the replacement for Imanol Harinordoquy who has had to pull out of the France squad for next weekend's RBS 6 Nations opener with Scotland.
Tabacco, a 30-year-old who plays for Pau, won the most recent of his 16 caps against the United States last July.
Harinordoquy was forced to withdraw late on Saturday evening after French team doctors examined the right shoulder he injured playing for club side Biarritz against former team Pau.
The rampaging Basque back-row forward has been one of his countrys outstanding players in recent years but he admits he was relieved to be retained in France coach Bernard Laportes 22-man squad after some indifferent performances in the November Test matches.
Harinordoquy still hopes to feature against England in Frances second match of the tournament.
France team manager Jo Maso told LEquipe: Imanol could eventually hope to play in the match with England at Twickenham on February 13.