France to host England for 90th anniversary celebrations
France will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the game in the republic by hosting England in men's and women's internationals in Toulouse on Saturday, June 29.
England beat both their men's and women's counterparts 64-0 the last time the nations met last April in Warrington, but since then France has improved.
France all but secured a women's 2026 World Cup berth with a 58-0 defeat of Greece last weekend and last year beat Wales, while the men triumphed against Serbia, Kenya and Wales in 2023.
England last visited France in 2021, with the men winning 30-10 and the women 40-4.
RFL Chair, Simon Johnson, said: “Rugby League in France has a rich and proud history, and the men’s international side first played England in Paris in 1934.
"I am delighted that our England sides have been invited be part of the 90thanniversary celebrations. Our thanks go to the FFR XIII for making this possible and we wish them well for the next 90 years.”
FFRXIII president Dominique Baloup said: “The French Rugby League Federation is delighted with the agreement with Stade Toulousain and Toulouse Olympique concerning the organization of the France-England women’s and men’s matches on June 29, 2024 at the Ernest Stadium Walloon in Toulouse.
"This agreement will consolidate and strengthen the exposure of Rugby 13 and its French teams with three meetings which will follow one another in this shrine of French rugby.
"I very warmly thank Mr Didier Lacroix President of Stade Toulousain, the Friends of Stade Toulousain Association and Mr Olivier Dubois President of Toulouse Olympique for their involvement in the success of this agreement.”
Rhodri Jones, RL Commercial Managing Director, added: “I’m sure that there will be plenty of England supporters inside the Stade Ernest-Wallon to cheer on our men and women, and I’m thrilled that those supporters who can’t be there will be able to follow the action on Super League+.
It’s a blank weekend in the 2024 fixture schedule, so Super League+ is the place to be for live Rugby League on Saturday 29 June.”
Toulouse Olympique's Betfred Championship match against Featherstone Rovers will also be played at Stade Ernest-Wallon on the same day, with a 9pm kick off.
France Under 19s will travel in the opposite direction just three days later to take on England Academy at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium on Tuesday 2 July (KO 7.30pm).
