France to meet Wales in RLWC2026 qualifier

France and Wales men will meet at the Municipality Stadium, Saint-Esteve on Saturday 26 October (kick off 14.30, local time) to decide who represents Europe at next year’s inaugural World Series, which will determine the final qualifiers for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.

Both had convincing wins over Ukraine and Serbia respectively at the Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne, those two nations now meeting in the third place-play-off, for world ranking points, in the second match of Saturday’s doubleheader (kick off 17.00).

Wales capitailised on Serbian indiscipline to build a 30-0 half time lead, spine trio of Billy Walkley, Josh Ralph and hooker Matty Fozard – who opened the scoring and finished with 18 points – dominating. Skipper Elliot Kear scored the try of the game, capitalising on a fine Rhys Williams break from inside his own half.

Wales men’s head coach John Kear was forced to miss the game having been admitted to hospital on Sunday night with the support of WRL medical staff. He remained there on Monday and Tuesday while doctors carried out a series of tests, before being discharged late on Tuesday afternoon.

His assistant, Mark Moxon, said: “We are delighted with the result, and I thought the performance was very good as well, particularly in the first half where we did everything we planned to. In this camp so far, we’ve been pleased with a half against Jamaica in our warm up game and a half against Serbia. To give ourselves half a chance against France, we need to bolt those two halves together. If we do that, I’m sure we can challenge them.”

Serbia tightened up in the second half but the damage had been done. “The early penalties really cost us,” said Serbia men’s head coach Darren Fisher. “That had a big effect on us being able to get a second wind, especially in the middle. Some belief returned after the break and we pushed more with the ball, that’s the positive we’ll take into the Ukraine game. We can see improvement.”

France were dominant throughout their clash with Ukraine, who had a big, vociferous following cheering them on in the stands. Winger Nittim Pedrero crossed for a hat trick of first half tries inside 14 minutes, with Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet a handful throughout in the centres, finishing with two of the host’s 14 touchdowns.

“That was pretty good, it’s always tough not knowing what to expect from the opposition,” said France men’s head coach Laurent Frayssinous. “They were tough and physical and our boys stood up to them in that area so I am proud of them. We now look forward to playing Wales and trying to select the right, fresh combinations, we can’t wait.”

Skipper Oleksandr Skorbach’s try on the hour got the biggest cheer from the Ukrainian followers, Tigris Polata with the final score of the game gaining similar acclaim. Ukraine head coach, Dan Beardshaw, noted: “I couldn’t be prouder of our boys who have not played a team of that quality before. It was a bit of a baptism of fire at time, the speed of the game and controlling the ruck, but that will improve the more we can face challenges like these. I was very pleased with how we approached the second half and the support we had was fantastic and helped bring out our emotion.”

SERBIA 0

Nikola Cotic. Rajko Trifunovic, Nick O’Meley, David Nofoaluma, Andrej Mora, Jesse Soric, Vojislav Dedic, Jake O’Meley, Sasha Popovic, Milos Calic, Stefan Arsic, Nikola Djuric, Enis Bibic. Interchanges: Dzavid Jasari, Ilija Cotric, Djordje Krnjeta, Marko Jankovic

WALES 48

Billy Walkley, Joe Coope-Franklin, Mike Butt, Will Evans, Rhys Williams, Elliot Kear, Josh Ralph, Huw Worthington, Matty Fozard, Ben Evans, Connor Davies, Max Clarke, Sam Bowring. Interchanges: Curtis Davies, Matt Ross, Anthony Walker, Ashton Robinson

Tries: Fozard (10), Kear (15), Walker (27), Robinson (30), C. Davies (36), Butt (54), Worthington (67), Coope-Franklin (80)
Goals: Fozard 7/7, Kear 1/1 

Referee : Geoff Poumes (France)

Half Time : 0-30

FRANCE 74

Louis Jouffret, Nittim Pedrero, Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, Tanguy Zenon, Clement Martin, Lucas Albert, Thomas Lacans, Clement Boyer, Nolan Lopez-Buttingol, Florian Vailhen, Jayson Goffin, Hnaloan Budden, Mickael Goudemand
Interchanges: Eloi Pelissier, Tiaki Chan, Hugo Salabio, Justin Sangare  

Tries: Vailhen (2,19), Budden (6), Pedrero (11, 14, 25), Pelissier (34, 39), Zenon (40), Goffin (44), Jouffret (57), Aispuro-Bichet (66,70), Martin (73). Goals : Albert 6/9, Aispuro-Bichet 3/4

UKRAINE 8

Yevhen Davydov, Tigris Polata, Mykhailo Troian, Jonah Ngaronoa, Danylo Vedler, Oleksandr Skorbach, Daniel Janissen, Oleksandr Syvykoz, Dmytro Semerenko, Volodomyr Karpenko, Yevhenii Trusov, Tom Mencinsky, Victor Tereszko
Interchanges: Yaroslav Davydov, Vitalii Puchkov, Yevhen Checheta, Valentyn Korchak

Tries : Skorbach (61), Polata (79); Goals : Skorbach 0/2

Referee : Stephane Vincent (France)

Half Time: 48-0