The French Judo Federation has selected an 18-man team for the 2011 GB World Cup at Echo Liverpool Arena on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 October.

As one of the powerhouses of the Olympic sport, France topped the medal table at the World Championships with six gold medals, four coming from the individual competition and a further two from winning both the men’s and women’s team categories.

Their GB World Cup selection includes 2011 IJF Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist and former junior world champion David Larose who will compete at -66kg. The 26-year-old, whose ranked number 14 in the world, has enjoyed success on British soil before having claimed gold at the GB World Cup in 2009.

David Larose batles Colin Oates at the 2011 World Championships
© Mike Varey

Pierre Duprat, 21, an emerging talent at -66kg, produced the biggest result of his young career with a fifth-place at the European Championships in April and took bronze at the German European Cup. The fast-rising Frenchman will be looking to make a make on the World Cup stage with a strong showing in Liverpool.

Loic Pietri, 21, one of the most exciting young talents in the Olympic sport, will compete at -81kg having earned admirers on British shores already this year with a series of sublime performances as he claimed British Open gold in May.

The former junior world champion took an impressive fifth-place at the 2011 World Championships as he continues his scintillating and rapid breakthrough on the world stage.

Loic Pietri en route to a fifth-place finish at 2011 World Championships
© Mike Varey

Matthew Dafreville, 29, who finished in fifth-place at the Beijing Olympics, will take to the -90kg category along with Anthony Laignes , 22, the 2010 European u23 Championships bronze medallist.

Cyril Maret, 24, the world number 20 at -100kg, has produced some polished displays this year with a fifth-place at the European Championships and a silver medal at the IJF Moscow Grand Slam.

Also in action in Liverpool will be Pierre Robin, 28, a former World and European Championships bronze medallist at +100kg.

Florent Urani and Gilles Bonhomme have withdrawn through injury.

Saturday 1 October will see the men’s lightweight categories of -60kg, -66kg and -73kg battle for honours while Sunday 2 October will see the -81kg, -90kg, -100kg and +100kg weight categories in action.

To book tickets log on to www.echoarena.com or call the Echo Arena Box Office on 0844 8000 400. Tickets are priced at £15 for adults & £5 for children (under 16).

Full team selection:

Team subject to change