Details have been confirmed for England’s mid-season internationals.
England’s Men and Women will play France in Toulouse on Saturday June 29, as the French Rugby League (FFR XIII) celebrates 90 years of the game in the republic. England Women take on France at 3.30pm (local time), followed by the Men’s international at 6pm. Strangely, the event has become a triple-header - Toulouse Olympique's Betfred Championship match against Featherstone will also be played at Stade Ernest-Wallon (9pm KO).
Both the Men’s and Women’s teams defeated their French counterparts 64-0 in last year’s mid-season internationals at Warrington. Organisers will be hoping for more competitive showings across the Channel. The scorelines were a little closer when the two sides last visited France in 2021 – the Men winning 30-10 in Perpignan and the Women 40-4.
RFL Chair Simon Johnson said: “Rugby league in France has a rich and proud history, and the Men’s international side first played England in Paris in 1934. I am delighted that our England sides have been invited be part of the 90th anniversary celebrations. Our thanks go to the FFR XIII for making this possible and we wish them well for the next 90 years.”
Both England’s matches will be streamed live from Stade Ernest-Wallon on Super League+
Tom Johnstone faced “manic” time settling at Catalans Dragons after horrid 2022France Under 19s will travel in the opposite direction just three days later to take on England Academy at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium on Tuesday 2 July (KO 7.30pm).