SET to play their 50th international match in this tournament, the creators of wheelchair rugby league will go in as contenders, but with a vastly different side, as just half of their squad played in the last World Cup four years ago.

Just Thomas Duhalde hasn’t played for France this year, and with his name being tagged on at the end of the squad release, whilst the rest were in alphabetical order, he looks to be a late addition. The remainder all played in the two-match series at home to Ireland this July, with Dany Denuwaelere and Jorge Gelade Panzo making their debuts in the first and second matches respectively.

The fact that France could field two different sides and still easily win their matches against Ireland is a scary thought for their opponents this World Cup, with the experienced Lionel Alazard, who was the star player in the first match against the Irish, not making the trip to Australia.

KEY PLAYERS

AT 63 years old, Gilles Clausells is likely to be the oldest player in the tournament, certainly the most experienced, having played in the very first Wheelchair international back in 2006, and still one of the most dangerous. He has played in every World Cup so far, and will bring a lot of experience, even if age is now catching up with him.

His nephew Nicolas Clausells is “only” 36 years old, so still has a lot of time on his hands. Scorer of a hat-trick of tries for France in the final when they last won the World Cup in 2017, he’s also brilliant with the kicking, scoring 28 of France’s points in their 32-28 win over England in 2024.

COACH

CYRIL TORRES took over as French head coach in 2024. As a player, he turned out for France in the 2013 and 2017 World Cups, leading them to victories each time. 

Originally a running player, a road accident confined him to wheelchair sports, and following a spell in Basketball, he took to rugby league with Catalans Dragons, and has also played for Canterbury Bulldogs and Leeds Rhinos.

SQUAD

Jérémy Bourson, Gilles Clausells, Nicolas Clausells, Dany Denuwelaere, Damien Doré, Guillaume Dubruel, Thomas Duhalde, Jorge Gelade Panzo, Florian Guttadoro, Jonathan Hivernat, Léo Hivernat, Adrien Zittel.