France v Jamaica WC Qualifier

[Gomersall]

https://www.ladepeche.fr/2025/10/12/un-enjeu-enorme-pour-le-xiii-de-france-le-selectionneur-evoque-le-match-face-a-la-jamaique-decisif-pour-jouer-la-coupe-du-monde-12986639.php
 

"A huge challenge for the XIII of France": the coach evokes the match against Jamaica, decisive to play the World Cup

What is the stakes of this meeting against Jamaica?

Laurent Frayssinous It's simple: we have to beat Jamaica to participate in the World Cup 2026 that will take place in Australia. This match pits the European champion against the best team in the American continent. The last qualifier will be known in November after the match between South Africa and the Cook Islands. The stakes are huge for us: I can't imagine that France is not at the World Cup.

What do you know about this Jamaican team?

I watched his matches from the last World Cup, especially against Wales. It's not a team to be taken lightly. It is composed only of Super League and Championship players. We know Wallace the pillar of Toulouse Olympique, Mickael Lawrence of Bradford and Ben Jones-Bishop who plays with York. Three other players are in Huddersfield's Super League squad. There are good individualities and a fairly solid collective. It's up to us to approach the meeting by being very humble.

The selection is largely composed of players of the Catalan Dragons.
It is the French team that plays at the highest European level. It is normal that the selection is based on them. Since 2021, our collective includes players like Bousquet, Garcia, Romano... They are used to playing together. But there will also be Toulousains. We obviously hope that the TO will evolve next season in the Super League, this will expand our base of high-level players.
Before this meeting, you will train together with Australia.

 

How was it organized?

Through Trent Robinson, the coach of the Sydney Roosters and former coach of the Catalan Dragons. We hoped to meet Australia, which is the best team in the world during its tests in England. Unfortunately, this was not possible. But coach Kevin Walters agreed that we would have joint training in London for three days. It will be a rewarding experience for the players and the entire staff.

 

France B will play a match against the Koalas on November 22. With what objective?
This France B team will be composed of the best Super XIII players. She will face a selection of players from the southern hemisphere playing in France. It will be a great opportunity for our best players to show themselves one year before the World Cup. We can expect a high-level match.

If France qualifies, what will be the program of the XIII of France in 2026?

We are discussing with the English federation so that there is a meeting in front of their selection. Then we will have a preparation match just before the World Cup. What we especially want in 2026 is that there are two French teams in the Super League, the TO and the Dragons. And that we qualify for this World Cup!

[Bongo1]

Sounds like the mid season international could be returning 

 

 

 

 

[eal]

Surely France can topple Jamaica. 

Edited October 13 by eal

[Henson Park Old Firm]

51 minutes ago, Bongo1 said:

Sounds like the mid season international could be returning 

 

 

 

 

Hope so

[Hopie]

I know the article says they want to play us, and later they want to play before the World Cup. I wonder if SL clubs would prefer to combine the two ideas.

[Tommygilf]

Interesting that they are having a Super XIII exiles match! 

I've wondered if our Exiles/CNAS could be used against teams other than England to help boost the number of home tests others could play.

[Tommygilf]

France have to beat Jamaica. Although arguably both should be in a qualification group with Cook Islands and SA where top 2 go through.

[langpark]

2 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

France have to beat Jamaica. Although arguably both should be in a qualification group with Cook Islands and SA where top 2 go through.

Agreed, I have never liked the way Cook Islands get such an easy passage into the WC.  What annoys me most is this:

Cook Islands population:  13,263

Registered RL players in Wales in 2025:  4,342

 Source:  Gemini AI.

[Henson Park Old Firm]

18 minutes ago, langpark said:

Agreed, I have never liked the way Cook Islands get such an easy passage into the WC.  What annoys me most is this:

Cook Islands population:  13,263

Registered RL players in Wales in 2025:  4,342

 Source:  Gemini AI.

Agree.

[Barley Mow]

2 hours ago, Tommygilf said:

France have to beat Jamaica. Although arguably both should be in a qualification group with Cook Islands and SA where top 2 go through.

That was the original plan.

I assume it was changed to either:

- Save money not transporting the teams to one place and putting them up in hotels for 3 or 4 weeks

- Allow Cook Islands to also play in the Pacific Championships

Another example of international RL having a plan and then scrapping it quite late in the day.

[Eddie]

France absolutely have to win this game, no disrespect to Jamaica but I’ll only be saying the same about them when their squad is made up of players born and bred in Jamaica. 

[Big Picture]

7 minutes ago, Eddie said:

France absolutely have to win this game, no disrespect to Jamaica but I’ll only be saying the same about them when their squad is made up of players born and bred in Jamaica. 

Their heritage players would legitimize themselves if they took out Jamaican citizenship. 

[Big Picture]

21 hours ago, eal said:

Surely France can topple Jamaica. 

In their only previous encounter in 2017, France won 34-12 in Perpignan.

[Jack GB]

I think we have to stick with the England vs France mid season. It's an extra run out / camp for the SL based Eng players and also an opportunity for France to play quality opponents. It frustrates me so much that we can't stick with anything. 

A strong(er) France is 100% in our interest - we need to build the strength of the NH international teams to give England other options for tests 

[welshmagpie]

9 hours ago, Barley Mow said:

That was the original plan.

I assume it was changed to either:

- Save money not transporting the teams to one place and putting them up in hotels for 3 or 4 weeks

- Allow Cook Islands to also play in the Pacific Championships

Another example of international RL having a plan and then scrapping it quite late in the day.

Official line is that they couldn’t get a feasible host in time for a round robin tournament. 

[Hopie]

3 hours ago, welshmagpie said:

Official line is that they couldn’t get a feasible host in time for a round robin tournament. 

If you look at crowds for previous World Cup qualifiers (especially those held in third countries) it is usually a big loss maker so the money men clearly didn't think it worth the investment. 

[NRLandSL]

Anyone have the Jamaica squad, can’t find it anywhere. 

[Gomersall]

https://treizemondial.fr/les-arbitres-pour-france-jamaique-designes/
While a well-known English referee from the Super League will officiate in the center of the match, the two side judges will be French.

While his brother Liam led the last Super League final won by Hull KR, Aaron Moore was appointed to referee the qualifying match for the World Cup between the XIII of France and Jamaica.

Well known to French supporters for having led the Catalan Dragons four times this season (three victories for the Dragons), he also made it official during the Championship semi-final won by Toulouse Olympique this season against Bradford.

This will be the second time he leads a match of the French team, he was already on the whistle last season during the victory of the Habs against Wales.

He will be accompanied by a trio of French referees, Geoffrey Poumès and Quentin Boissonnade will be the two sidelines of the match while Ludovic Bernard will be the fourth referee.

[sam4731]

On 14/10/2025 at 10:09, Barley Mow said:

That was the original plan.

I assume it was changed to either:

- Save money not transporting the teams to one place and putting them up in hotels for 3 or 4 weeks

- Allow Cook Islands to also play in the Pacific Championships

Another example of international RL having a plan and then scrapping it quite late in the day.

The women are playing in one location. It's definitely the CI factor. The precious NRL need a third team for their Pacific Bowl.

[Gomersall]

 

[NRLandSL]

5 hours ago, Gomersall said:

 

What's the harm in selecting a couple of Jamaican domestic players. The domestic scene seems to be going to really strong over there. People aren't going to be encouraged to play if they have no hope of ever making the national team.

[StandOffHalf]

Shame it clashes with First Test at Wembley.

[gnidir]

1 hour ago, NRLandSL said:

What's the harm in selecting a couple of Jamaican domestic players. The domestic scene seems to be going to really strong over there. People aren't going to be encouraged to play if they have no hope of ever making the national team.

There is no money to fund them mate. IRL cut funding to most nations, Jamaica is self funding and the Jamaican based lads play in North American tournaments, the Europe based on es in the European games. Not ideal, but thats how it has to work. Some of the domestic Jamaican lads would more than hold their own against France.

[NRLandSL]

26 minutes ago, gnidir said:

There is no money to fund them mate. IRL cut funding to most nations, Jamaica is self funding and the Jamaican based lads play in North American tournaments, the Europe based on es in the European games. Not ideal, but thats how it has to work. Some of the domestic Jamaican lads would more than hold their own against France.

? What funding is needed for a plane ticket. I'm sure most of the players could pay for themselves if needed. I assume it's just the coaches not rating the Jamaican domestic players.

There's a player from Australia in the team. Did he receive funding.

Edited October 22 by NRLandSL

[gnidir]

19 minutes ago, NRLandSL said:

? What funding is needed for a plane ticket. I'm sure most of the players could pay for themselves if needed. I assume it's just the coaches not rating the Jamaican domestic players.

There's a player from Australia in the team. Did he receive funding.

Im just letting you know the reasons mate. I work with these guys. Thats why the Jamaican based lads haven't travelled.