RUGBY LEAGUE IN FRANCE ON VERGE OF NEW DAWN AFTER WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION

French Rugby League Federation president, Dominique Baloup, has hailed the men’s qualification for the IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 in Australia and Papua New Guinea as a transformative moment for the sport. They will join the women and wheelchair teams at the combined tournament.

“By beating Jamaica and qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the men offered the public, France Télévision viewers, and the entire rugby league family a moment of pride, passion and sporting communion,” he said.

“This victory goes beyond the field alone. It symbolises the constant progress of a younger, hard-working, close-knit group, which carries the French colours high with commitment and respect. It also testifies to the quality of the work accomplished by the technical staff and all those who have worked to make our France team efficient.”

Baloup added: “Our team has offered an exciting face of French Rugby League, and that's crucial. Our sport is a game of movement, speed and collective intelligence; it makes young people want to join our clubs, it inspires confidence in our partners, and it arouses the curiosity of the general public. It's a whole positive ecosystem that is set in motion when the game seduces.”

Of the atmosphere at the game against the Reggae Warriors in Albi, Baloup noted: “The stadium vibrated, the stands sang, and the atmosphere embodied what is most beautiful about our sport; the proximity to the public, the popular fervour, the shared emotion. This collective success is also that of the volunteers, institutional and private partners, local authorities and the Federation, united to promote French Rugby League.”

Asked what the win now means to FFRXIII, Baloup confirmed: “Qualification for the 2026 World Cup is a great lever for development. It opens up a new stage of structuring, visibility and ambition. This qualification is a major opportunity. It allows us to strengthen our visibility, to mobilize communities, clubs, schools, and private partners around a common goal.

“We want this dynamic to go beyond the national teams alone; that it irrigates the territories, that it promotes women's practice, wheelchair rugby league, and all of our training structures. It is a lever for collective satisfaction and shared ambition.”

Baloup continued: “It will thus allow our movement to attract new practitioners, inspire young people and strengthen our presence throughout the country. Rugby league has talent, values and a strong identity, it has just proven it once again on the field and in the stands. France rugby league is already looking to the future, proud and confident.”

Explaining what happens for his side now, France men’s head coach, Laurent Frayssinous told L’Independent newspaper, “We're currently waiting for the schedule and the fixtures to plan our preparation. We don't yet know if there will be an international window (in Super League). The Ashes have just finished in England, and discussions are ongoing, England wants to organize a match and a training camp.”

As part of their ongoing preparation, next Saturday he will attend a game between France B and the Koalas in Carcassonne. The Koalas are a selection of the best overseas players in France’s elite domestic competition, the Super XIII.

“I want these France B players to shake up the hierarchy; that's what we expect from them,” noted Frayssinous. “The bond has really strengthened between the U17, U19, France B, and France A teams, but also with the women's team and wheelchair rugby league. The 'French national team' is a real entity; it's not just a slogan.

“I have this ambition to meet regularly with Joel Tomkins (Catalans Dragons head coach) and Sylvain Houles (of Toulouse Olympique), but also the Super XIII coaches. And I want to see what is being done elsewhere, in Super League or even in rugby union, to draw inspiration from best practices. We organized team-building days, video exchanges, meetings in person or remotely, but without field sessions,” he confirmed of this season’s preparations.

Looking ahead to the World Cup, Frayssinous outlined: “We are in discussions to organize a camp and a match in New Caledonia before the World Cup. Everything will depend on the budget and the availability of the opponents. The Federation, for its part, is preparing to field three teams in Australia in 2026 with one single objective, to showcase French rugby league on the world stage.”