Wales to warm up for RLWC2026 qualifiers with Jamaica clash

Wales will warm up for their World Cup qualifying campaign by taking on Jamaica in a senior international at The Lextan Gnoll in Neath on October 15.

The match takes place a week before the European RLWC2026 qualifying tournament in Carcassonne, featuring France, Serbia, Ukraine and Wales.

The final will be played in Perpignan on October 26, with the winner progressing to the 2025 World Series against Cook Islands, Jamaica and South Africa.

Jamaica will fly to Canada for their next international just four days after the trip to Wales as the Reggae Warriors seek international hitouts for their squad ahead of the World Series. 

The match will be the first full senior men’s international played by Wales since the last World Cup in 2022, and the first in South Wales since 2016.

Wales coach John Kear is looking forward to playing in front of potentially a packed house at The Lextan Gnoll.

“The game against Jamaica is important for a number of reasons," Kear said. "One is preparation for the World Cup qualifying competition that we have within a week of the game plus, more importantly for me is that we’re playing a Wales men’s international in South Wales for the first time in years and it’s absolutely vital that we play at home every year.

“The majority of the Jamaica team, like ours, will come from a Championship environment and there are still play-offs going on at that time, so we’ll both be looking at the scenario and see who’s ruled out and who we have to draft in."

RLJA director and head coach Romeo Monteith said: “Jamaica are looking forward to the match. For the first time since the World Cup in 2022, it gives us a chance to see our UK based players which is important as we head towards World Cup qualifiers in 2025. 

“We’ve only had one international since the last World Cup, and that was against the USA last December in Kingston. We played only Jamaican-based players then, so this is the perfect chance to engage our English-based professionals.

"We hope to have some key senior players involved but also to debut several younger players who we hope will become main stays over the next few years.

“We expect a good match against Wales, they are preparing for their World Cup qualifiers and will have a strong squad. It’s brilliant they get to play at home and we are encouraging fans and sponsors to support both teams.”