France keen to retain Euros title as fixture details announced

France coach Laurent Frayssinous has earmarked the end-of-season European Championship A as the start of a journey towards a strong performance at the 2025 World Cup after further details of fixtures were announced.

A record number of eight nations will contest the tournament, split into two groups, with England, Ireland, Scotland and Serbia in Group A and France, Italy, v Spain and Wales in Group B.

The teams finishing top of each pool will contest the final on Saturday, November 11. A venue for the final has yet to be decided but will most likely in France.

Four matches will be staged on each of three weekends prior, with England making an historic first trip to Serbia on November 4.

The two highest placed nations in each group, outside of England and France, who have already qualified for the World Cup, will join them at France 2025.

The other nations will go into the final qualifying competition in 2024.

France are the European Championship holders and Frayssinous is eager to make the most of the opportunity to retain the trophy.

France are the defending European Championship holders

“We’ve got to use all the time from now to build up to hosting the World Cup and this championship is an important part,” Frayssinous said.

“We want to spend more time together and our group has a good Mediterranean mix, with Italy and Spain likely to include a lot of players from the French competition.

"We faced Wales last year and the way John Kear motivates his players, and on the back of a good World Cup for them, it will be a real test.

"Hopefully we can make the final and keep the trophy. There has always been an appetite for international rugby league in France which will also help give further profile to the domestic game.”

The European Championship Trophy

The scheduled dates are as follows:

Group A

21st October 2023 – England v Ireland, Scotland v Serbia

28th October 2023 – Scotland v England, Serbia v Ireland

4th November 2023 – Serbia v England, Ireland v Scotland

Group B

21st October 2023 – Spain v Wales, France v Italy

28th October 2023 – France v Spain, Italy v Wales

4th November 2023 – Wales v France, Italy v Spain

Final

11th November 2023

A further announcement confirming the exact day of the weekend, kick off time and venue for each match is to be confirmed. Fans should not book travel until that information has been advised.