France, Greece to begin 2026 World Cup campaign

The road to the 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup will officially begin on April 13 when France host Greece in the opening European qualifier at the Stade Georges Dartiailh.

The Group B fixture is the first match with an impact on qualification for RLWC2026, which is set to be staged in the Southern Hemisphere, and the first time France and Greece have met in a women's international. 

The winner of Group B, which also includes Serbia, will join Australia, England, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in qualifying for the World Cup, which is the last time the men's, women's and wheelchair tournaments are played concurrently.

The winner of Group A, involving Ireland, Wales, Netherlands and Italy, will also qualify, with the runners-up in each group to meet for a place at the 2025 World Series and the opportunity to secure the final women's RLWC2026 berths.

 
France celebrate a try at RLWC2021 in England (Getty Images)

France go into the match on the back of some encouraging performances in 2023, including a 14-4 victory over Wales and a 116-0 triumph against Serbia.

“We are taking this match very seriously as there is so much at stake with qualification to the Rugby League World Cup on the line," France coach Romain Maillot said. 

"I expect a Greek team that will play hard to meet their own ambitions of qualification.

“We have had some turnover in the squad since our last game against Wales, but I have the confidence in all of the players and our wider group have been working together for some time, so they know what is expected of them.

"We need to continue our strong performances and this is the state of mind in which we have prepared.” 

Greece have three players in line to make their debut, Kalliopi Louloudi and Sotiria Skouroliakou of Aris Eagles and Marianna Chali of Athens Raiders. All four Greek domestic clubs are represented in the 19-player squad.

Greece's last outing was a 14-0 home loss to the Netherlands in December 2023, in a year which also saw them beat Serbia 8-4 in Belgrade.

Greece women after their 2023 win against Serbia

“We've been building women's rugby league in Greece since 2018, played our first international match in 2019 and now we are playing World Cup Qualifiers which is a dream come true," Greece coach Jim Minadakis said.

"We know France will be our hardest opponent yet, but I believe we are up for the challenge. We have prepared well these past few months and I am extremely proud of the effort put in from our girls.”

Greek captain, Ourania Koutsikou, added: “I cannot really shape my excitement into words. One thing I’m sure is that my team will leave everything on the field and we’ll fight hard to show all of our effort over the last months.”

James Spencer from Ireland will take charge of the fixture, having been a graduate of the European Rugby League match officials education programme which has contributed to neutral referees being appointed to all games in the qualifiers. 

FRANCE 19 WOMAN SQUAD
Amael Vilanove, Inès Legout, Mahault Pommier (AS Ayguesvives XIII ), Tallis Kuresa (RC Bègles XIII), Dorine Samarra, Manon Samarra, Perle Ramazeilles, Stecy Bessiere, Salomé Segala (RC Lescure Arthès XIII), Cristina Song Puche, Fanny Ramos, Justine Roses, Leïla Bessahli, Margot Canal, Pauline Noe, Sarah Menaa (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan), Chahrazad Himoudi, Hélène Leclerc, Nabila Zaghdoudi (Toulouse Ovalie) 

GREECE 19 WOMAN SQUAD

Anna Limperi, Asimina Mastoraki, Christina Macris, Cleopatra Velmachou, Kalliopi Louloudi, Maria-Anna Lamprou, Maria-Eleni Gkirlemi, Myrsini Pappa, Sofia-Margarita Kitsaneli, Sotiria Skouroliakou (Aris Eagles), Chrysi Lymperidi, Georgia-Fotini Koutsimpogeorgou, Magdalini Stavrianou, Marianna Chali, Ouranua Koutsikou, Sofia Anagnostopoulou (Athens Raiders), Dimitra Papoutsi, Velissaria Koutsioumpa (Attica Rhinos), Ekaterini Varypati (Zante RL)

WOMEN’S RLWC2026 – EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS

Preliminary Play-Off
Italy v Netherlands – Saturday 27 April - 1500 KO - Maurizio Quaggia Stadium, Mogliano Veneto, Treviso

Group A
Wales v Ireland – Saturday 27 April – 1445 KO – Cardiff University Sports Fields, Cardiff
Ireland v Winner of Italy v Netherlands – Sunday 19 May – 1500 KO – Morton Stadium, Dublin
Winner of Italy v Netherlands v Wales – Saturday 22nd June – KO TBC – Venue TBC

Group B
France v Greece – Saturday 13 April – 1600 KO – Stade Georges Dartiailh, Marmande
Greece v Serbia – Saturday 18 May – KO TBC - Nea Smyrni Stadium, Athens
Serbia v France – Saturday 22 June – 1700 KO - Stadium FC Srem Jakovo, Belgrade