24 Jun 2024

Rookie Rooster called up as France, England name squads for Toulouse clash

Sydney Roosters rookie Enzo Griffier has been named by France coach Laurent Frayssinous in a 22-man squad to meet England in Toulouse in an international double-header to celebrate the 90th anniversary of French rugby league.

Griffier (left) joined the Roosters last year, along with fellow Frenchman Sacha Kouassi (right), and the 19-year-old outside back made his NSW Cup debut on June 15 after returning to Australia this year to play SG Ball for the club.

A member of the France U19s team that beat England in 2022, Griffier advanced to the Roosters U21s Jersey Flegg team and is now a member of the NSW Cup squad.

After making his international debut against Serbia last year, Griffier has been included in a near full strength French team to face England this weekend, which includes the likes of Théo Fages, Benjamin Garcia, Mickael Goudemand and Arthur Mourgue.

 

 

Wigan rookie Tiaki Chan, whose brother Joe plays for Melbourne Storm, has also been included in the French squad, which is expected to form of the nucleus of the team for the end-of-season European RLWC2026 qualifying tournament.

"This group to face England is surely the best group that the French team has known for quite some time and it comes at the perfect time to celebrate the 90th anniversary of French rugby league," Frayssinous said.

"I know that the players are keen to give everything to make the party a great one and to make all the French players proud as well as our 90-year-old heritage, even against one of the best teams in the world.

"We will approach this Test match with the humility that characterises us, but also with this enormous desire to fly the colours of our country and our sport."

 

 

England coach Shaun Wane has named several new faces in his 20-man squad, including Castleford centre Sam Wood, Wigan hooker Brad O’Neill, Hull KR loose forward Elliot Minchella, St Helens prop George Delaney, Huddersfield forward Oliver Wilson and Leeds forward James McDonnell.

O’Neill has been almost ever-present for the Wigan over the last two years, playing an integral role in the Warriors’ successful pursuit of all four available trophies – the Betfred Super League, League Leaders’ Shield, Betfred Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge.

Minchella has also impressed Wane in recent seasons, having helped Hull KR to both the Challenge Cup Final and the Super League Play-Offs in 2023.

Delaney, McDonnell and Wilson – in common with several other squad members – are products of the England Pathways programme. McDonnell and Wilson were members of the England Academy side that defeated the Australia Schoolboys back in 2018, while Delaney represented England Knights against Scotland in 2022. 

 

 

“I’m pleased with the squad we’ve brought together for this mid-season international and there is a strong balance between some more experienced international players and some newer faces to the England squad," Wane said.

“All of the new players who have come into the squad have impressed me with their performances in the Betfred Super League this season and have earned their spot in this England squad.

“Having travelled to face France back in 2021, we know they will offer us a stern test which is exactly what we need ahead of the two-game series against Samoa this Autumn.”

Both England’s men's and women's team play France on Saturday, as the French Rugby League (FFR XIII) celebrates 90 years of the game in the republic. The matches will be streamed live from Stade Ernest-Wallon on SuperLeague+, Rugby League’s global, direct-to-consumer streaming service.

Kick-off times are 2.30pm BST (women) and 5pm BST (men).

France: Lambert Belmas, Julian Bousqut, Tiaki Chan, Alrix Da Costa, Jordan Dezaria,  Théo Fages, Benjamin Garcia,  Mickael Goudemand, Enzo Griffier, Franck Maria, Hakim Miloudi, Arthur Mourgue, Romain Navarrete,  Matthieu Laguerre, Arthur Romano, César Rouge, Hugo Salabio, Justin Sangare, Maxime Stefani, Ugo Tison, Fouad Yaha.

England: Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves), George Delaney (St Helens), Tyler Dupree (Wigan Warriors), Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos), James Harrison (Warrington Wolves), Tom Johnstone (Catalans Dragons), Matty Lees (St Helens), Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten (both Hull KR), James McDonnell (Leeds Rhinos), Elliot Minchella (Hull KR), Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos), Matty Nicholson (Warrington Wolves), Brad O’Neill, Harry Smith, Luke Thompson (all Wigan Warriors), Jack Welsby (St Helens), George Williams (Warrington Wolves), Oliver Wilson (Huddersfield Giants), Sam Wood (Castleford Tigers).

Geoffrey Poumes of France and Tom Grant of England have been appointed to referee Saturday’s international fixtures in Toulouse.

 

 

Poumes, an experienced official who was a member of the international panel for the Rugby League World Cup in 2022, will take charge of the Women’s International at the Stade Ernest-Wallon, heading up an all-French team with Louis Moreau and Florian Gely as the touch judges, and Lucie Peyre the reserve referee.

Grant, a member of the RFL’s full-time panel of officials who turns 30 next month, and was also a member of the 2022 World Cup panel, has been appointed for the Men’s International.

He will also be supported by two French touch judges – Stephane Vincent and Quentin Boissonade – with Enzo Peyre the reserve referee. (Peyre is the brother of Lucie, making this an unusual family double)

James Vella, another member of the RFL’s full-time panel, will be the video referee for both matches – with France’s Mohammed Drizza observer for the Women’s International, as part of the French Federation’s development plans.

Men

R: Tom Grant

TJ: Stephane Vincent

TJ: Quentin Boissonade 

RR: Enzo Peyre 

Interchange: Hugo Carpentier

Video Referee: James Vella

Time Keeper: David Segura 

Match Commissioner: Magalie Goubie

Women

R: Geoffrey Poumes

TJ: Louis Moreau 

TJ: Florian Gely 

RR: Lucie Peyre

Interchange: Hugo Carpentier

Video Referee: James Vella (Mohamed Drizza observer)

Time Keeper: David Segura 

Match Commissioner: F Rametta