Million Pound Game delays naming of France squad

France has delayed the announcement of their 24-man squad for the Rugby League World Cup to enable players from Catalans to focus on the club’s battle for Super League survival in Saturday’s Million Pound Game against Leigh.

FRA

The French Federation of Rugby XIII had planned to be the second nation after the USA to name a squad for the World Cup on Tuesday but France coach Aurélien Cologni said the announcement would be postponed until next Monday following the Dragons loss to Widnes last weekend.

As a result of the 12-10 defeat, Catalans must travel to Leigh and secure a win to retain their place in Super League for an 12th consecutive season.

The loser of the Million Pound Game will be relegated to the second tier Championship league, where they will play next season against the likes of Toulouse Olympique, Toronto Wolfpack and London Broncos.

With so much at stake, Cologni said a scheduled press conference in Barcarès to announce the squad would now take place next Monday.

"We do not want to disrupt their preparation," Cologni said. "It's in the public interest."

An extended France squad named ahead of a training camp in July included eight Catalans players. Among them were former Sydney Roosters pair Jason Baitieri and Remy Casty, and 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.

France will warm up for the World Cup with an historic Test against Jamaica at Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpigan on 13 October.

The les Chanticleers squad will then depart for Australia the following day to prepare for their opening match of the World Cup against Lebanon in Canberra on Sunday, 29 October.

France will then play Australia in Canberra on Friday, 3 November and England in Perth on Sunday, 12 November.

France extended squad announced earlier this year:
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).

By Brad Walter | @BradWalterSport
Chief Correspondent, RLWC2017