Hosts France, Serbia, Wales and Ukraine have named their squads for the forthcoming RLWC2026 European qualifiers.
The winner of the tournament will proceed to 2025’s inaugural World Series and represent the continent, where they will meet fellow International Rugby League full members Cook Islands, Jamaica and South Africa to battle for the remaining two berths at the World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The semi-finals, determined by the IRL’s world rankings, sees Serbia take on Wales and France facing Ukraine, which take place as a double header on Tuesday 22 October at the Stade Albert-Domec in Carcassonne (kick offs 17.00 and 19.30 respectively, local time).
The action then heads south to Saint-Esteve, where the Municipality Stadium will host the Final on Saturday 26 October (at 14.30) before a third place-play-off for world ranking points (17.00).
France are still to reduce their train-on squad as men’s head coach Laurent Frayssinous awaits the conclusion of Toulouse Olympique’s season in the Championship Final this Saturday at Wakefield, and to see how selected players come through this weekend’s round of fixtures in the French professional leagues.
“We are aware of the challenge that awaits us during this European Cup, and we have the clear and precise objective of getting closer to qualifying for the next World Cup,” Frayssinous said on arrival back in the country after finishing his stint as assistant coach with St Helens. “We are all excited at the idea of the squad coming together and we can't wait to start preparing together.”
Wales warmed up with a 22-16 win back on home soil at The Gnoll in Neath, over Jamaica on Tuesday night. “The game was a good start to our preparations, and a number of players have now had their first taste of international rugby league and will be better for it,” commented men’s head coach John Kear. “We’re ready to embrace the challenge of continuing our World Cup journey.”
Ukraine have already departed as they take face Czechia on Friday 18 October as part of their build up, before continuing by bus to France. Ukraine RL president, Artur Martyrosian, noted: “We are very excited to be bringing the Ukraine team to France. We have assembled a squad which has been enhanced by players based in the UK and Australia who are looking forward to representing their Ukrainian heritage, but still the majority will be from Ukraine. It will be a tough challenge when we face France but are determined.”
Serbia will have two nights preparation in the Barcelona region before arriving in Carcassonne and their squad includes Nic Cotric, who has just joined Catalans Dragons and David Nofoaluma. Their men’s head coach, Darren Fisher, confirmed: “I’m really excited about our squad as we have tried to manage the balance. We have spent a while in talks with a lot of players outside Serbia and the guys that we have brought over will give us a lift of enthusiasm. Our domestic boys know what the challenges will be ahead of us having come through our pathways.”
Tickets for both events can be purchased from: www.ffr13.fr/billetterie/
FRANCE SQUAD:
Jayson Goffin, Nittim Pedrero (Albi RL), Romain Franco (Bradford Bulls), Lucas Albert, Vincent Albert, Clement Boyer, Nolan Lopez Buttignol (Carcassonne XIII), Guillermo Aispuro Bichet, Alrix Da Costa, Theo Fages, Mathieu Laguerre, Clement Martin, Arthur Romano, Cesar Rouge (Catalans Dragons), Thomas Lacans (Featherstone Rovers), Louis Jouffret (Halifax Panthers), Hugo Salabio (Huddersfield Giants), Mickael Goudemand, Justin Sangare (Leeds Rhinos), Ugo Tison (London Broncos), Hakim Miloudi, Florian Vailhen (Pia XIII Baroudeur), Lambert Belmas, Benjamin Laguerre, Anthony Marion, Eloi Pellissier, Maxime Stefani (Toulouse Olympique), Mathieu Cozza (Wakefield Trinity), Tiaki Chan (Wigan Warriors)
SERBIA SQUAD:
Nicholas O'Meley (Burleigh Bears), Nic Cotric (Catalans Dragons), Andrej Mora (Dorcol Tigers), David Nofoaluma, Sasha Popovic (Glebe Dirty Reds), Jake O’Meley (Lakes United Seagulls), Ilija Cotric (Mounties), Jesse Soric (NZ Warriors), Aleksandar Pavlovic, Djordje Krnjeta, Dzavid Jasari, Enis Bibic, Strahinja Stoiljkovic, (Partisan 1953), Jordan Grant (Penrith Panther), Stefan Arsic (Radnicki Nis), Marko Jankovic, Milos Calic, Nikola Djuric, Rajko Trifunovic, Vojislav Dedic, Vuk Strbac (Red Star), Joshua Coric (St George Illawarra)
UKRAINE SQUAD:
Tim Knight (Caloundra Sharks), Daniel Janissen (Cardiff Cobras), Jonah Ngaronoa (Glebe Dirty Reds), Yevhen Checheta, Yevhen Davydov, Anatolii Hrankovskyi, Volodymyr Karpenko, Vitalii Puchkov, Dmytro Semerenko, Oleksandr Shcherbyna, Oleksandr Skorbach, Oleksandr Syvykoz, Mykhailo Troian, Yevhenii Trusov, Volodymyr Voitov (Kharkiv Legion XIII), Valentyn Korchak, Ostap Kozak (Lviv Tigers), Victor Tereszko (Queanbeyan Blues), Danylo Vedler (Rivne Giants), Brock Jurkans (Singleton Greyhounds), Tigris Polata (Southern Suburbs Magpies), Tom Mencinsky (Sydney University RLFC)
WALES SQUAD:
Max Clarke (Barrow Raiders), Elliot Kear (Batley Bulldogs), Samual Grice (Castleford Tigers) Matt Ross (Cornwall), Curtis Davies (Dewsbury Rams), Connor Davies (Halifax Panthers), Billy Walkley (Keighley Cougars), Ashton Robinson (Leeds Rhinos), Sam Bowring (Midlands Hurricanes), Ben Evans (North Wales Crusaders), Joe Coope-Franklin, Finley Yates (Salford Red Devils), Josh Ralph (St George Illawara), Ant Walker, Rhys Williams (Swinton Lions), Will Evans, Huw Worthington (Whitehaven), Mike Butt, Matty Fozzard (Widnes Vikings), Bailey Antrobus (York Knights)