France has named an expanded squad for home internationals against Ireland at the CREPS in Nantes on Thursday, November 21 (8 p.m.) and England on Saturday, November 23 (5 p.m.) in Saint-Lô (Manche), the second leg of the Fassolette-Kielty Trophy.

The latter, created in 2015 by the Frenchman Robert Fassolette and the Englishman Malcolm Kielty, founding fathers of the practice of Para Rugby XIII (XIII Wheelchair) and put into play by the two nations for this 8th edition. As for Ireland, the last match against France dates back to September 2015 at the European Championship, where Les Bleus won by a wide margin.

A major challenge for our internationals who want to forget the defeat in the first leg against the English in Wigan 66-33.

Cyril Torres' men, two-time world champions, finalists of the last edition, will meet their counterparts for a "remake" of 2023. The French had beaten the "Three Lions" at home before losing in front of their home crowd in Marseille in the second leg.

This France team also carries a special heritage since the group is made up of the double world champions of 2013 and 2017 and the new generation.

A high-level match awaits the fans with the two best teams in the world, to be followed live on the channels of viàOccitanie and Sport en France.

Stat attack

  • Lisa LARTIGUE, 17 years old, first woman selected in the history of French Para Rugby XIII
  • Cyril TORRES, two-time world champion, will experience his first two matches on French soil as coach.
  • First 5 international caps against Ireland

Fassolette-Kielty Trophy winners

  • 2015 England
  • 2019 England
  • 2021 France
  • 2022 England
  • 2023 France (November 5 in Leeds)
  • 2023 England (November 25 in Marseille)
  • 2024 England (October in Wigan)

France–England by the numbers

  • Biggest win: 31 – 71 during the 2017 World Cup
  • Last French victory: 34 – 43 at Leeds in 2023
  • French victories: 10
  • English victories: 6
  • Draw: 0

The squad

  1. Lionel ALAZARD – Pandas Montauban Handisport
  2. Pierre BOTTE – Aingirak Euskadi
  3. Jérémy BOURSON – Dragons Catalans Handis
  4. Thomas CANDELA – RFC Toulon Provence Méditerranée
  5. Gilles CLAUSELLS – Dragons Catalans Handi
  6. Nicolas CLAUSELLS – Catalan Dragons for the Disabled
  7. Damien DORE – Dragons Catalans Handis
  8. Guillaume DUBRUEL – Stade Toulousain Handisport 
  9. Thomas DUHALDE – Aingirak, Euskadi
  10. Jorge GELADE PANZO – Catalan Dragons Handis
  11. Florian GUTTADORO – SO Avignon
  12. Jonathan HIVERNAT – Dragons Catalans Handis
  13. Léo HIVERNAT – Dragons Catalans Handis
  14. Lisa LARTIGUE – RFC Toulon Méditerranée
  15. Julien PENNELLA – Aingirak Euskadi
  16. Victor PULY – Dragons Catalans Handi
  17. Arno VARGAS – Catalans Dragons for Disabled
  18. Adrien ZITTEL – SO Avignon

Previous results

  • 2008: France 18 – 26 England
  • 2012: England 22 – 43 France
  • 2013: England 20 – 28 France (World Cup)
  • 2013: France 44 – 40 England (World Cup final)
  • 2014: France 64 – 46 England
  • 2015: England 56 – 26 France (Fassolette-Kielty Trophy)
  • 2015: France 100 – 8 Ireland (European Championship)
  • 2017: England 31 – 71 France (World Cup)
  • 2017: France 38 – 34 France (World Cup final)
  • 2019: France 25 – 31 England (Fassolette-Kielty Trophy)
  • 2019: France 50 – 46 England (Fassolette-Kielty Trophy)
  • 2021: England 24 – 49 France (Fassolette-Kielty Trophy)
  • 2021: England 26 – 39 France (Fassolette-Kielty Trophy)
  • 2022: England 62 – 48 France (Fassolette-Kielty Trophy)
  • 2023: England 34 – 43 France (Fassolette-Kielty Trophy)
  • 2023: France 18 – 34 England (Fassolette-Kielty Trophy)
  • 2024: England 66 – France 33 (Fassolette-Kielty Trophy)