France v Jamaica RLWC26 Qualifier: Oct 25, Albi

French coach Laurent Frayssinous has reinforced the history of the IRL Rugby League World Cup to his players as they prepare for arguably the most important match in France’s recent history.

France will host Jamaica in a RLWC2026 play-off at Albi on Saturday (12.30am AEST) and Frayssinous and FFRXIII director of rugby Trent Robinson have assembled their strongest possible team in a bid to ensure the World Cup founders become the ninth nation to qualify.

Among the squad is rookie Sydney Roosters centre Enzo Griffier and Canterbury Bulldogs forward Louis Grossemy, who made 15 NSW Cup appearances this season. Both have graduated from the French Under 19s team.

There are also players drawn from English Super League clubs, including Hull KR premiership winning playmaker Arthur Mourgue, Hull FC-bound centre Arthur Romano and York Knights forward Justin Sangare, as well as a large contingent from Catalans, headed by Ben Garcia.

After hopes for a Test against Australia as part of the first Kangaroo Tour in 22-years fell through, the French squad spent two days training with the World Cup holders in London to prepare for the RLWC2026 qualifier against Jamaica.

“Every French player who can play is playing. They love being in camp and Laurent has created a really good environment, so it was a good investment from the French Rugby League because they don’t get any return on that compared to a game.

“Our leaders got to spend some time with their leaders at the hotel and then we got to train against them twice. It was really good to see the level, pick up a few things and then we came into camp in Albi on Tuesday.”

After forfeiting the hosting rights for RLWC2025, France find themselves having to qualify for the World Cup, which was pushed back a year and reduced from 16 teams to 10.

They won the European qualifying tournament last year and now meet Jamaica, the Americas qualifier, before an expected capacity 8000 crowd.

Frayssinous has ensured that the players understand the significance of the match, with France having played in every World Cup since the concept was founded by in 1954 by legendary French administrator Paul Barrière, after whom the trophy is named.

“We have fought our way through and we have played good footy to get to here but really this is the only game that counts now,” Robinson said.

“We know the history of it, Laurent has been great at re-enforcing the history of the World Cup and what that means to us, and why there is a French rooster on the World Cup.

“We want to get in there and play and represent now but we want to continue that standing in the game. We want to be one of the other leading countries in the world of rugby league and to do that we have got to win.”

Jamaica are looking to compete in their second consecutive World Cup and have included former Rugby 7s international Jack Rampton, who impressed at the NRL Vegas Combine earlier this year.

Rampton, who is from London and has Jamaican heritage, spent time with Hull FC this season has been compared to England and Newcastle Knights winger Dom Young.

In comparison to France, Jamaica's preprations have been low key - although co-head coach Jy Mel Coleman doesn’t believe that has harmed their prospects.

“We’re happy to be out the spotlight, that was never a big issue for us,” he commented.

“Everyone internally knows exactly what we are looking to achieve and how, and that’s been transmitted to the players, it doesn’t make much of a difference to us. We respect the French and their squad but we feel we’ve come up with a game plan that will hopefully see us do well.”

Coleman confirmed: “Some of their players you see week-in, week-out in Super League but it’s a one-off and we’ve been here before as underdogs and come up with a result and if we can carry that plan out for 80 minutes and thoroughly believe, we think we can cause an upset.”

The Reggae Boys are looking to compete in their second, consecutive World Cup after becoming everyone’s second favourite nation in 2022 in England with their refreshing approach, not least out in communities. “If I’m honest, I think it’s a bit of a let down going to ten nations and newer ones like ours not having the same opportunities but that isn’t to be, we just need to do what we can and see where we get to.

“The game’s growing on the island, the domestic players are still in season and, with limited resources, it’s not possible to get them over for this game,” Coleman noted. “There is a lot of interest back home and messages coming in where people can watch the game.

“We’ll be looking to our bigger name players, but I’m particularly looking forward to seeing Harlan Smith who is new to the group, come in from Wigan with a good pedigree and I’m excited to see how he goes after how he’s looked in training, and Delaine Gittens-Bedward who’s been great when he’s pulled on the Jamaica shirt.

“We’ve not had long together but that only motivates us further. One thing we will do is give it everything and look after each other as a team, our identity that we live by won’t change.”

France (alphabetical)

Louis Grossemy (Canterbury Bulldogs), Guillermo Aispuro Bichet, Julian Bousquet, Alrix Da Costa, Leo Darrelatour, Jordan Dezaria, Theo Fages, Benjamin Garcia, Romain Navarrete, Cesar Rouge, Arthur Romano, Paul Seguier, Ugo Tison, Fouad Yaha (Catalans Dragons), Arthur Mourgue (Hull KR), Justin Sangare (Salford Red Devils), Enzo Griffier (Sydney Roosters), Anthony Marion (Toulouse Olympique), Mathieu Cozza (Wakefield Trinity).

Jamaica (alphabetical)

Delaine Gittens-Bedward (Barrow Raiders), Joshua Hudson-Lett (Bedford Tigers), Dec Tomlinson, Keenen Tomlinson (Dewsbury Rams), Isaac Coleman (East Leeds ARLFC), Leo Skerrett-Evans (Keighley Cougars), James Woodburn-Hall (Halifax Panthers), Ashton Golding, Kieran Rush (Huddersfield Giants), Jimmy Morgan (Hunslet ARLFC) Chris Ball (London Broncos), Keenan Ramsden (Mullumbimby Giants) Jordan Andrade (Rochdale Hornets), Jamin Williams (St Mary’s), AJ Wallace (Toulouse Olympique), Ben Jones-Bishop (York Knights) Harlen Smith (Wigan Warriors), Jack Rampton (Unattached).