Samoa begin their 2026 Rugby League Worls Cup campaign on Friday night, 16th October, as they take on France at the CommBank Stadium in Sydney (5:45pm KO local time).

After riding a rollercoaster of emotions in 2026, Jarome Luai will co-captain Samoa along with Junior Paulo as they open their campaign against France at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.

Paulo and Luai are among six survivors from the Samoa side that lost the 2021 World Cup Final to the Kangaroos along with Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu and Chanel Harris-Tavita.

Newcastle Knights edge forwards Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua will cap off their stunning 2026 season by making their Samoa debuts.

Ben Garcia lines up at his fourth World Cup as he skippers a France outfit that includes Souths flyer Latrell Siegwalt in the centres and Hull KR's Arthur Morgue at fullback.

Half back Cesar Rouge scored 20 points in France's World Cup qualifying win over Wales in Perpignan in 2024 thanks to two tries and six goals.

Samoa (squad): Izack TAGO, Chanel HARRIS-TAVITA, Francis MOLO, Benaiah IOELU, Jermaine Mcewen, Francis Manuleleua, Jazz TEVAGA, Shawn BLORE, Sua FAALOGO, Ata MARIOTA, Clayton FAULALO, Ronald VOLKMAN, Enari Tuala

France (squad): Arthur  MOURGUE, Benjamin LAGUERRE, Latrell SIEGWALT, Guillermo AISPURO-BICHET, Leo DARRELATOUR, Cesar ROUGE, Romain NAVARRETE, Benjamin GARCIA, Mathieu JUSSAUME, Julian BOUSQUET, Tiaki CHAN, Mathieu COZZA, Louis GROSSEMY, Joe DRODROLAGI, Romeo TROPIS, Fouad YAHA