France to host Lebanon ahead of RLWC2026 qualifiers

France will prepare for the European men's RLWC2026 qualifiers by hosting World Cup quarter-finalists Lebanon in two fixtures in Pamiers and Albi.

The French, who will host the European qualifying tournament, will face the Michael Cheika-coached Cedars on October 13 and 19.

Lebanon lost 34-12 to New Zealand before beating Ireland 32-14 and Jamaica 74-12 to finish second in their pool at the last World Cup in 2022 in England. The Cedars were eliminated at the quarter-final stage 48-4 loss to the Kangaroos in Huddersfield.

France beat Greece 34-12 but lost 42-18 to England and 62-4 to Samoa to finish third in their pool and miss the quarter-finals so now have to go through a qualifying process to claim one of the two remaining berths for RLWC2026.

After playing Lebanon, Laurent Frayssinous' men are scheduled to meet Ukraine in Carcassonne on October 22 in a double-header with Wales and Serbia.

The two winners will then play off in Perpigan on October 26 to become the European representative in the inaugural 2025 World Series against Jamaica, South Africa and Cook Islands. The semi-final losers also playing for world ranking points.

The World Series format will see all four nations play each other once, with the winners and runners up on the table taking the remaining two berths at the 2026 World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Schedule

• October 13: France vs Lebanon - Stade Balussou de Pamiers
• October 19: France vs Lebanon - Stadium d'Albi
• October 22: France vs Ukraine - Stade Albert Domec in Carcassonne
• October 22: Wales v Serbia - Stade Albert Domec in Carcassonne
• October 26: Final - Perpignan