Jamaica’s Tyronie Rowe (right) tries to force his way through the Canadian defence during Jamaica’s 28-6 defeat by Canada in Toronto recently. (Photo: Ross Rowlands)
Jamaica must now add France to the list of nations that they must overcome if they are to reach a second-successive Rugby League World Cup final in 2026.
The French began last week’s European Qualifier as favourites to wreck the hopes of Wales, Serbia and Ukraine and, with home advantage, they had no trouble dismissing the opposition, easing to a 48-6 victory over the Welsh in Saturday’s group final at St Esteve.
The Welsh, like Jamaica’s Reggae Warriors, rely heavily on heritage players and were never serious challengers from the moment a near full-strength French side went ahead through an Arthur Romano try, which Super League Catalans Dragons’ clubmate Cesar Rouge converted.
The full-time professionals in blue scored three more tries, through Rouge (twice) and Romain Franco, plus one conversion, before Rhys Williams became the fourth highest-points scorer in Welsh international history when he claimed the visitors’ only score 12 minutes before the interval.
Matty Fozard landed the goal to leave Wales trailing 20-6 at half-time.
But further French tries from Eloi Pelisseau, Justin Sangare, Theo Fages and Lambert Belmas and Tiaki Chan, four of which were supplemented by Rouge conversions, taking his tally to six out of nine attempts, gave France a comprehensive 48-6 win to add to their 14-try, 74-8 mauling of Ukraine in Carcassonne last Tuesday.
Jamaica need to finish in the top two of next year’s World Series to join the already qualified World Cup hosts Australia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, New Zealand, England, Tonga, Fiji, and Lebanon in a 10-team finals in 2026.
Australia will stage most of the fixtures, including the final, but Papau New Guinea, where rugby league is regarded as the national sport, have been allowed some, as yet unspecified, games.
“France are the only nation in next year’s World Series with two full-time professional clubs in Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique, so we always expected they would make it through the European Group,” commented Reggae Warriors Director of Rugby Romeo Monteith.
“But there are two places still available and we intend to fight tooth and nail for one of them.”
