By Richard Cowley, Date: 19/10/12
The first game of the Autumn international series see Wales take on France this weekend at Stade Felix-Bollaert at Lens in France.
France and Wales at international level have had many close encounters in recent years. The most notable being the 2010 European Cup. Both nations came into the last game of the tournament having to win the game to win the European Cup and qualify for the 2011 Rugby League Four Nations. In what was a tightly matched game Wales clinched victory. The final score being Wales 12 – France 11.
France and Wales will be using this match to see how they are progressing with their preparations for next years World Cup. Both sides will be hosting matches during the world Cup and are hoping that the European contingent can get one over their southern counterparts come world cup time.
The French team is mainly made up of players from the Catalans Dragons with a few Elite players making the grade. Wales have a scattering of players from Super League, Welsh based teams Scorpions & Crusaders along with some players from the Queensland Cup in Australia.
France: J Baitieri (Catalan Dragons), W Barthau (Catalan Dragons), K Bentley (Pia Pigs), T Bosc (Catalan Dragons), R Casty (Catalan Dragons),V Duport (Catalan Dragons), O Elima (Bradford Bulls), D Ferriol (Catalan Dragons), T Gigot (Avignon), M Griffi (Lezignan), K Larroyer (Catalan Dragons), A Maria (Catalan Dragons), G Mounis (Catalan Dragons), M Pala (Catalan Dragons), E Pelissier (Catalan Dragons), S Raguin (Catalan Dragons), S Mickael (Catalan Dragons), C Soubeyras (Pia Pigs), C Stacul (Catalan Dragons)
Wales: E Kear (Bradford Bulls), BEvans (Warrington Wolves), M Channing (London Broncos), C Roets (North Wales Crusaders), R Massam (North Wales Crusaders), N Budworth (Mackay Cutters, Australia), D Jones (Keighley Cougars), C Moss (Keighley Cougars), M Seamark (Wynnum Manley Seagulls, Australia), D James (South Wales Scorpions), S Parry (South Wales Scorpions), J Burke (South Wales Scorpions), J James (Salford City Reds), G Dudson (Wigan Warriors), B Flower (Wigan Warriors), R Lloyd (Wigan Warriors), R Pugsley (Wigan Warriors), D Fleming (Castleford Tigers), C Kopczak (unattached)
