Gomersall Posted November 12, 2023 Posted November 12, 2023 Apparently France are playing Kenya on 1st December in Kenya. I haven’t see any previous sign of it until barnyia mentioned it in the Elite 1 Round 6 thread. It is referenced on the Limoux and Albi FB accounts. 2 3
barnyia Posted November 13, 2023 Posted November 13, 2023 30 man squad named, be cut to 20 for the tour. Can be seen on the ffr13 website 1 1
Gomersall Posted November 13, 2023 Author Posted November 13, 2023 https://www.ffr13.fr/kenya-vs-france-la-liste-des-pre-selectionnes/ The French team is preparing to go on tour in Kenya from November 30 to December 6, 2023 for a double confrontation on Saturday, December 2 and Tuesday, December 5, 2023. The tricolor staff has unveiled an expanded list of 30 players that will be reduced to 20, before this imminent departure. Always with this same philosophy, the management wishes to focus on the future and quality of Elite players for this trip to Nairobi. It's a double historical confrontation! France and Kenya will compete for the very first time. Emerging nation of rugby leagues, Kenya saw its national team born in 2013. She beat Italy in 2014 (34-24), then will experience a period of development on her territory to recreate a pennant team in recent years only. In Autumn 2022, the African nation was defeated by Ghana (26-6) and won Cameroon 16 to 0. In lack of playing time, she recorded a double defeat against South Africa (56-12 and 82-2) at the beginning of November. Maxime Grésèque, coach of the XIII de France: "We are going to Kenya with the same philosophy as Serbia: a French team mainly composed of Elite 1 players. With a completely rejuvenated group, we are going to the African continent to face this team for the first time and above all to best prepare for the upcoming deadlines!" The list of 30 pre-selected players: AISPURO-BICHET Guillermo (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan) AUBRY Félix (Carcassonne XIII) BABY Alan (Pia XIII) BELMAAZIZ Yann (XIII Limouxin) BEN ABDESLEM Yacine (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan) BOUSCAYROL Justin (XIII Limouxin) BOYER Clément (Carcassonne XIII) BROCAS Luc (F.C. Lézignan XIII) BUDDEN Hnaloan (R.C. Saint-Gaudens XIII) CARRÉ Louis (S.O. Avignon XIII) CRUNEL Quentin (XIII Limouxin) DALL'ASTA Paolo (XIII Limouxin) DELTHEIL Enzo (Villeneuve XIII RL) FABRE Baptiste (Albi XIII RL) FLOVIE Jordan (F.C. Lézignan XIII) GOFFIN Jayson (Albi XIII RL) GRIFFIER Enzo (R.C. Salon XIII) GROSSON Maxime (S.O. Avignon XIII) HERRERO Clément (Carcassonne XIII) LE CAM Corentin (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan) LEVEILLE Mathias (Albi XIII RL) LOPEZ-BUTTIGNOL Nolan (Carcassonne XIII) MARIA Franck (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan) MARTY Mathias (Pia XIII) PEDRERO Nittim (Albi XIII RL) PONS Mathieu (R.C. Saint-Gaudens XIII) POURCHI Baptiste (S.O. Avignon XIII) SKOUNDRI Wail (Toulouse Olympique XIII) VAILHEN Florian (Pia XIII) VERGNIOL Lucas (XIII Limouxin) 5 1
Eddie Posted November 13, 2023 Posted November 13, 2023 They’ll destroy them, I don’t see the point of sending such a strong side. 3
Gomersall Posted November 13, 2023 Author Posted November 13, 2023 35 minutes ago, Eddie said: They’ll destroy them, I don’t see the point of sending such a strong side. If South Africa can score 80+ against Kenya then the French will score a century + IMO. 1
theswanmcr Posted November 13, 2023 Posted November 13, 2023 41 minutes ago, Eddie said: They’ll destroy them, I don’t see the point of sending such a strong side. France are going to play Kenya, At Rugby League. In Kenya. How anyone can find this anything other than amazing in the current s***show state of international rugby league is beyond me. 13
Eddie Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 8 hours ago, theswanmcr said: France are going to play Kenya, At Rugby League. In Kenya. How anyone can find this anything other than amazing in the current s***show state of international rugby league is beyond me. It’s certainly an interesting development but personally I’m not a fan of blow outs, I’m as much of a fan of the international game as anyone and desperately want it to grow but I really don’t know what either side will gain from this. 1
Chrispmartha Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 48 minutes ago, Eddie said: It’s certainly an interesting development but personally I’m not a fan of blow outs, I’m as much of a fan of the international game as anyone and desperately want it to grow but I really don’t know what either side will gain from this. Blowouts will happen in any sport that’s trying to spread to new places. If were waiting till all international games are competitive till games are played, those games will never happen. look at Italy in the six nations in the other code, they got thumped regularly but they stuck with it until they were more competitive. 2
The Masked Poster Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 1 hour ago, Eddie said: It’s certainly an interesting development but personally I’m not a fan of blow outs, I’m as much of a fan of the international game as anyone and desperately want it to grow but I really don’t know what either side will gain from this. They definitely won’t gain anything from it not happening. 3
Eddie Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 18 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said: Blowouts will happen in any sport that’s trying to spread to new places. If were waiting till all international games are competitive till games are played, those games will never happen. look at Italy in the six nations in the other code, they got thumped regularly but they stuck with it until they were more competitive. Good point, I hope it goes well for them. 1
Eddie Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 9 minutes ago, The Masked Poster said: They definitely won’t gain anything from it not happening. True, and it’s good of France to go on what must be a very costly trip. Out of interest though, would you be pleased if England were playing the Czech Republic this winter?
The Masked Poster Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 2 minutes ago, Eddie said: True, and it’s good of France to go on what must be a very costly trip. Out of interest though, would you be pleased if England were playing the Czech Republic this winter? Well A) yeah I’d be pleased there was an international game with England taking place but B) they’d almost certainly send out a community side or something. France might be sending out a reasonable side but world beaters they certainly aren’t. The games will almost certainly go the way you described but without these things happening, nothing will ever develop.
NRLandSL Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 (edited) 17 hours ago, Gomersall said: https://www.ffr13.fr/kenya-vs-france-la-liste-des-pre-selectionnes/ The French team is preparing to go on tour in Kenya from November 30 to December 6, 2023 for a double confrontation on Saturday, December 2 and Tuesday, December 5, 2023. The tricolor staff has unveiled an expanded list of 30 players that will be reduced to 20, before this imminent departure. Always with this same philosophy, the management wishes to focus on the future and quality of Elite players for this trip to Nairobi. It's a double historical confrontation! France and Kenya will compete for the very first time. Emerging nation of rugby leagues, Kenya saw its national team born in 2013. She beat Italy in 2014 (34-24), then will experience a period of development on her territory to recreate a pennant team in recent years only. In Autumn 2022, the African nation was defeated by Ghana (26-6) and won Cameroon 16 to 0. In lack of playing time, she recorded a double defeat against South Africa (56-12 and 82-2) at the beginning of November. Maxime Grésèque, coach of the XIII de France: "We are going to Kenya with the same philosophy as Serbia: a French team mainly composed of Elite 1 players. With a completely rejuvenated group, we are going to the African continent to face this team for the first time and above all to best prepare for the upcoming deadlines!" The list of 30 pre-selected players: AISPURO-BICHET Guillermo (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan) AUBRY Félix (Carcassonne XIII) BABY Alan (Pia XIII) BELMAAZIZ Yann (XIII Limouxin) BEN ABDESLEM Yacine (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan) BOUSCAYROL Justin (XIII Limouxin) BOYER Clément (Carcassonne XIII) BROCAS Luc (F.C. Lézignan XIII) BUDDEN Hnaloan (R.C. Saint-Gaudens XIII) CARRÉ Louis (S.O. Avignon XIII) CRUNEL Quentin (XIII Limouxin) DALL'ASTA Paolo (XIII Limouxin) DELTHEIL Enzo (Villeneuve XIII RL) FABRE Baptiste (Albi XIII RL) FLOVIE Jordan (F.C. Lézignan XIII) GOFFIN Jayson (Albi XIII RL) GRIFFIER Enzo (R.C. Salon XIII) GROSSON Maxime (S.O. Avignon XIII) HERRERO Clément (Carcassonne XIII) LE CAM Corentin (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan) LEVEILLE Mathias (Albi XIII RL) LOPEZ-BUTTIGNOL Nolan (Carcassonne XIII) MARIA Franck (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan) MARTY Mathias (Pia XIII) PEDRERO Nittim (Albi XIII RL) PONS Mathieu (R.C. Saint-Gaudens XIII) POURCHI Baptiste (S.O. Avignon XIII) SKOUNDRI Wail (Toulouse Olympique XIII) VAILHEN Florian (Pia XIII) VERGNIOL Lucas (XIII Limouxin) Cool to see Hnaloan Budden get a call up, been in great form for st gaudens and I assume he must be the first New Caladonian to play for France. Also 18 Nolan Lopez-Buttingnol is a really cool selection, only debuted for Carcassonne last week (I think) and he was really impressive from dummy half. A heap of more deserved selections as well. Also interesting and annoying as a roosters fan that Enzo Griffier is labeled as playing for Salon as I thought the roosters had signed him already. By the looks of things he hasn’t been playing for Salon so I’m not sure what’s going on. Edit: Just remembered about Dimitri Pelo and he had a few caps for France. Edited November 14, 2023 by NRLandSL 1
NRLandSL Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 11 hours ago, Gomersall said: If South Africa can score 80+ against Kenya then the French will score a century + IMO. This is probably going to be a cricket score, I could even see a world that in a professional game the French players may start taking a bit easy towards the back end of the game if they reach the 150 mark, but hopefully I’m wrong. I think it would be a lot more suitable for France to send a youth side but I hear this is about France needing to play games in order to keep there world ranking so I assume it wasn’t an option.
NRLandSL Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 @barnyia by any chance do you happen to know what’s going on with Enzo Griffier and the roosters ?, I hear the roosters are interested in signing him but I have no clue what’s going on.
Eddie Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 43 minutes ago, NRLandSL said: I hear this is about France needing to play games in order to keep there world ranking so I assume it wasn’t an option. Blimey I hadn’t considered that. If it’s true then it demonstrates what a woeful state the international game is in, that a twice World Cup finalist has to play a country who’ve played a couple of international games to get ranking points. 1
Gomersall Posted November 14, 2023 Author Posted November 14, 2023 17 minutes ago, Eddie said: Blimey I hadn’t considered that. If it’s true then it demonstrates what a woeful state the international game is in, that a twice World Cup finalist has to play a country who’ve played a couple of international games to get ranking points. Does anyone know what sort of adjustment to the rankings this type of game would make?
barnyia Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 (edited) Serbia are close behind France as are Wales I think, Holland are sneaking up due to playing lots of games, Games played count as well as results, if you don't play, teams pass in front of you. Edited November 14, 2023 by barnyia
barnyia Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 1 hour ago, NRLandSL said: @barnyia by any chance do you happen to know what’s going on with Enzo Griffier and the roosters ?, I hear the roosters are interested in signing him but I have no clue what’s going on. He's going back to the roosters in December or January I believe, my son says he's definitely going back(they played France 17s together), Sascha was going back to play too but has decided to stay at Villeneuve and as actually taken a double licence to play union as well, 2
Damien Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 3 minutes ago, barnyia said: Serbia are close behind France as are Wales I think, Holland are sneaking up due to playing lots of games, France and Wales are way ahead of Serbia.
barnyia Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 That was the reason France played Serbia earlier this year, France was 8th Wales 9th and Serbia 10th if I remember.
Barley Mow Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 18 minutes ago, Damien said: France and Wales are way ahead of Serbia. Serbia are between France and Wales in the IRL rankings. Wales also haven't played any matches this year, Serbia have played five (won three - one loss being to France). If I remember correctly, only the last three years count towards the ranking and the more recent matches are weighted more than those in years two and three. France are actually some distance a ahead of Serbia in the rankings, but could overtake Lebanon (who haven't played at all either) this year.
Damien Posted November 14, 2023 Posted November 14, 2023 4 minutes ago, Barley Mow said: Serbia are between France and Wales in the IRL rankings. Wales also haven't played any matches this year, Serbia have played five (won three - one loss being to France). If I remember correctly, only the last three years count towards the ranking and the more recent matches are weighted more than those in years two and three. France are actually some distance a ahead of Serbia in the rankings, but could overtake Lebanon (who haven't played at all either) this year. The rankings are pretty meaningless because of what you say. Wales would beat Serbia easily.
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