France name PNG winger Kuni Minga in World Cup squad

France have named Papua New Guinea winger Kuni Minga in an extended squad to prepare for the Rugby League World Cup at a two-day training camp in Perpignan.

FRA

Minga, who has scored 12 tries in 13 matches this season for Toulouse Olympique, was a surprise selection in the 32-man squad dominated by players from the two French clubs which play in England, Catalans and Toulouse.

The 23-year-old was selected on residency grounds after playing the past five seasons for Toulouse, who are currently fifth in the Rugby Football League Championship competition.

Under changes to the international eligibility rules, a player needs to have lived for five years in a country to qualify on residency grounds.

Minga joined Toulouse from the TNA Simbu Lions in 2013.

With the Kumuls having indicated they will not select European-based players from teams below Super League-level for their World Cup squad, Minga is believed to have changed his allegiances to France.

He is one of five Toulouse players chosen for the camp in Port-Barcarès on July 26 and 27, which also features eight members of the Catalans Super League squad, including former Sydney Roosters pair Jason Baitieri and Remy Casty.

Catalans secondrower Ben Garcia, who moved to Australia in 2012 to join Wynnum Manly before spending a season in Brisbane’s Under 20s team and playing for Penrith at the 2016 NRL Nines, is also in the squad.

France coach Aurélien Cologni said the camp would focus on group cohesion and include activities intended to strengthen team spirit and solidarity between players, which he described as “essential aspects to reach our goal”.

French Squad
Bastien Ader (Toulouse), Olivier Arnaud (Avignon), Jason Baitieri (Catalans Dragons), William Barthau (London Broncos), Guillaume Bonnett (Lézignan), John Boudebza (London Broncos), Julian Bousquet (Catalans Dragons), Clément Boyer (Toulouse), Windy Buche (Lézignan), Bastien Canet (Toulouse), Damian Cardace (Lézignan), Remi Casty (Catalans Dragons), Vincent Duport (Catalans Dragons), Th’eo Fages (St Helens), Stan Robin (Toulouse), Ben Garica (Catalans Dragons),Tony Gigot (Catalans Dragons),Maxime Herold (Limoux), Benjamin Jullien (Warrington), Kevin Larroyer (Castleford), Thibaud Margalet (Catalans Dragons), Remy Marginet (Sheffield Eagles), Antony Maria (Leigh Centurions), Hakim Miloudi (Carcassonne), Kuni Minga (Toulouse), Romain Navarette (Wigan Warriors), Eloi Pelissier (Leigh Centurions), Arthur Romano (St Estève-XIII), Mickaël Rouch (Catalans Dragons), Gadwin Springer (Castleford Tigers), Fouad Yaha (Catalans Dragons).

(Image Source: Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII)

By Brad Walter | @BradWalterSport
Chief Correspondent, RLWC2017