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European World Cup Qualifiers 2024

girvie

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France will host the men’s European qualifying competition for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, with the winners becoming the continent’s representative in the inaugural 2025 World Series to face Jamaica, South Africa and Cook Islands.

With qualification now open only to full members, the hosts will take on Serbia, Ukraine and Wales, with teams seeded according to their world ranking positions which sees the semi-finals pit Serbia against Wales and France take on Ukraine. Those matches will be played in Carcassonne on Tuesday 22 October.

Finals day will take place on Saturday 26 October in Perpignan between the two semi-final winners for the World Series place, with the semi-final losers also playing for world ranking points. The World Series format will see all four nations play each other once, with the winners and runners up in the table taking the remaining two berths at the 2026 World Cup.

“Hosting the series of matches in October is a real opportunity for French Rugby League,” said French RL Federation president, Dominique Baloup. “Wales to the west and Serbia and Ukraine to the east, whose situation is so appalling, will be the representatives of the many European nations who, with different levels of performance, are working, progressing and showing the progress of rugby league on the continent.

“The matches to be held in the Aude and Pyrénées Orientales regions, true Rugby League lands, will provide the teams involved with optimum playing conditions.”

France men’s head coach, Laurent Frayssinous added: “It's with a real sense of excitement that we approach the European Cup. We know the value of our opponents that we'll have to give our all in this competition if we're to achieve our goals. This European tournament is a new opportunity for us to continue to progress and put French 13-a-side rugby back on the world stage.”

Serbia’s men played five internationals last year, with wins against Greece, Italy and Czechia and losses to France and Netherlands. Already they have beaten Montenegro in 2024 and looking to take on the Netherlands again in September in a warm up game for these clashes.

Men’s head coach, Darren Fisher, noted: “We are extremely excited about the opportunity of the qualifiers, facing Wales initially will enable us to test our strengths. We’re grateful to France for hosting the games and for us it’s a great opportunity to be part of a major competition.”

Ukraine beat Greece twice last year in Athens and have had two successful showings at the U19s competition in 2022 and 2024, with players expected to graduate to the senior side.

“We’re proud of our recent performance in the U19s European Championship and we have had some good interest from players with Ukrainian heritage from across the globe who are interested in representing us,” said men’s head coach Dan Beardshaw.

“Playing France is a huge opportunity and it’s something that Ukraine Rugby League has earned the right to do, in preparation we’ll be going into camp for a friendly match on the way to France. We’ll be using the tournament to continue the growth of Ukraine Rugby League.”

Wales men have not played since the last World Cup held in 2022, when they performed creditably in toughest group against Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands. Their men’s head coach, John Kear, noted: “We’re excited by the challenge and opportunity that lies ahead of us in the Autumn.

“Whenever a Welshman pulls on that red jersey, they take their performance to another level and that’s what we’ll have to do to be successful in these fixtures. It was fantastic to see our Women’s team qualify for a first ever World Cup in June and our Wheelchair side already have their place, too. We’ll be doing everything we can to take one step closer to joining them.”

 

girvie

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Having shown its fight and grit on the battlefield, Ukraine is now turning its attention to the sports field. And it has called on Australia for reinforcements.

Several Australian footballers of Ukrainian heritage will for the first time team up with Ukraine-based players, including serving soldiers, for the nation’s team at next month’s European qualifiers for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
Ukrainian players Jonah Ngaronoa and Tom Mencinsky.

Ukrainian players Jonah Ngaronoa and Tom Mencinsky. Credit:Louise Kennerley

The first Ukrainian league club, Legion XIII, was formed by students in 2007 and played in the Russian championship, before a four-team Ukrainian championship was founded in 2009. The next year, that number increased to six clubs.
Before Moscow’s invasion in February 2022, there were 10 clubs, 29 teams and 500 players, including seniors and juniors, playing rugby league across the country.

More than 60 players – including some in the national team – are thought to have contributed to the war effort, either as a member of the army or Territorial Defence Force. Despite this, the team – courtesy of several overseas players of Ukrainian heritage – jumped from 28th to 20th in the IRL World rankings last year having defeated Greece twice in Athens.

Coached by Brit Dan Beardshaw and managed by Australian Matt Girvan, the team’s six Australian members were selected after an extensive trial process, including a series of matches against other heritage teams.

“When the war started, as a longtime rugby league volunteer married to a Ukrainian, I thought to myself: ‘What can I do to contribute to standing with Ukraine?’ That’s when we started identifying players with Ukrainian heritage and organising the heritage team together with the Ukrainian Rugby League Federation,” Girvan said.

“We were amazed by the turnout, enthusiasm and commitment. Over 40 players from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia have participated, and we’ve ultimately landed on six from Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney and Newcastle to go to Europe and team up with the Ukrainian-based players,” Girvan said.

To qualify for the Ukrainian national team, Tom Mencinsky, 28, from Sydney, successfully made the transition to league after a lifetime playing rugby union, including for Northern Suburbs. All four of his grandparents were refugees during World War II and then migrated to Australia.
“It’s a massive privilege to be selected to represent my grandparents and my Ukrainian heritage. But it’s even more significant to me during wartime because it shows how Australia is in solidarity with Ukraine in the fight for democracy,” Mencinsky said.

Also in the squad is Jonah Ngaronoa, a Cronulla Sharks junior, who now plays in the Ron Massey Cup with the Glebe Dirty Reds. He played the 2023 season with the Sydney Roosters in the NSW Cup.
Dan Beardshaw (centre) the Ukrainian national team coach with players Tom Mencinsky (left) and Jonah Ngaronoa.

Dan Beardshaw (centre) the Ukrainian national team coach with players Tom Mencinsky (left) and Jonah Ngaronoa. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Their efforts have won the praise and encouragement of some of league’s biggest names, with Penrith’s Nathan Cleary and Canberra Raider Hudson Young – both with Ukraine heritage – sending messages of support to the country and the team.

Ukraine’s first match will be a Test against the Czech Republic, followed by their first World Cup qualifier fixture on October 22 against host nation France in Carcassonne. They could then play either Serbia or Wales in a further match the following week in Perpignan, France.
Artur Martyrosian, a serving solider in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, is president of the Ukrainian Rugby League Federation. He said teaming up with heritage players was a huge morale boost.

“It’s not only great for those of us in the growing rugby league community in Ukraine. It also says to Ukrainians more broadly that Australians are on their side, and that makes a great deal of difference during this terrible war by Russia against us,” Martyrosian said.
The Australians are fundraising to be able to join their teammates, some of whom serve in the military in Ukraine’s defence against Russia, for the fixtures, and have now launched a GoFundMe page with a target of $30,000.

 

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