France Rugby League Next Game: World Cup 2026 Fixtures
When do France play next at the Rugby League World Cup 2026, and what time is it on back home in France?
France hosted the very first World Cup in 1954, and they arrive in Australia with a squad built on Super League clubs Catalans and Toulouse.
France’s next game is against Samoa on Friday 16 October 2026 at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, kicking off at 5:45pm Sydney time (8:45am in France, 7:45am UK).
After that, France play England in Perth on 24 October and Lebanon in Parramatta on 1 November.
Below, you’ll find every France fixture in French, Sydney and UK time, the TV details, the team news and the women’s fixtures.
We update this page after every match, so it always shows France’s next game and latest result first.
Quick Answer: France Rugby League Next Game
- Next game: Samoa v France, Friday 16 October 2026
- Kick-off: 5:45pm Sydney (8:45am France, 7:45am UK)
- Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
- Opponents: Samoa, England and Lebanon
- Last updated: 13 October 2026
When Is France’s Next Game?
France open their Rugby League World Cup 2026 against Samoa on Friday 16 October in Parramatta.
It’s a tough start. Samoa reached the final of the last World Cup in 2022.
The two teams also met at that tournament, when Samoa won 62-4 in Warrington.
A strong showing in Western Sydney would set France up for two big games against England and Lebanon.
France Rugby League World Cup 2026 Fixtures
France play all three of their pool matches in a little over two weeks, in Sydney and Perth.
| Date | Match | Venue | Sydney | France | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 16 Oct | Samoa v France | CommBank Stadium, Parramatta | 5:45pm | 8:45am | 7:45am |
| Sat 24 Oct | England v France | HBF Park, Perth | 5:35pm | 8:35am | 7:35am |
| Sun 1 Nov | Lebanon v France | CommBank Stadium, Parramatta | 5:50pm | 7:50am | 6:50am |
Every France match kicks off in the morning in France, so fans back home can watch with breakfast.
For every other match in your time zone, see our Rugby League World Cup 2026 kick-off times guide.
What Time Is Samoa vs France?
Samoa vs France kicks off at 5:45pm Sydney time on Friday 16 October.
That’s 8:45am in France, 7:45am in the UK and 7:45pm in New Zealand.
In Samoa, it’s 7:45pm on Friday evening, so both sets of fans get a good viewing time.
Want to know more about the opposition? See the Samoa next game page and the Toa Samoa squad.
What Channel Is France Rugby League On?
Every France match is shown live in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
- Australia: Free on the Seven Network and 7plus
- New Zealand: Sky Sport
- UK and Ireland: Premier Sports (subscription)
In France, France Télévisions showed the World Cup qualifier against Jamaica on France 3 and France.tv.
We’ll confirm the World Cup broadcaster in France here as soon as it’s announced.
Travelling from France to Australia? NordVPN keeps your home streaming account working and protects you on public Wi-Fi. (We may earn a commission.)
For other countries, see our guide to watching the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
France Team List v Samoa
Laurent Frayssinous named his team for the opener on Tuesday 13 October, with Benjamin Garcia as captain.
| No. | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arthur Mourgue | Fullback |
| 2 | Benjamin Laguerre | Wing |
| 3 | Latrell Siegwalt | Centre |
| 4 | Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet | Centre |
| 5 | Leo Darrelatour | Wing |
| 6 | Cesar Rouge | Five-eighth |
| 7 | Theo Fages | Halfback |
| 8 | Romain Navarrete | Prop |
| 9 | Benjamin Garcia | Hooker |
| 10 | Lambert Belmas | Prop |
| 11 | Arthur Romano | Second row |
| 12 | Mathieu Jussaume | Second row |
| 13 | Julian Bousquet | Lock |
| 14 | Amir Bourouh | Bench |
| 15 | Tiaki Chan | Bench |
| 16 | Jordan Dezaria | Bench |
| 17 | Mathieu Cozza | Bench |
Coaches can still make late changes, so the final 17 is confirmed shortly before kick-off.
You can see Samoa’s team, and every other Round 1 side, on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 team lists page.
France Team 2026: The Big Selection Calls
Captain Benjamin Garcia starts at hooker, in what is set to be his final World Cup.
Theo Fages and Cesar Rouge form the halves, with Arthur Mourgue at fullback.
South Sydney’s Lattrell Siegwalt, the only NRL-based player, starts in the centres.
Hull FC hooker Amir Bourouh comes off the bench, and Fouad Yaha misses out on the 17.
France Rugby League World Cup 2026 Squad
Laurent Frayssinous named his 23-man squad on 1 October, cut down from a 40-man training group.
Nineteen of the 23 play in Super League, with eight from Toulouse and six from Catalans.
Big names left out include Toulouse’s Anthony Marion and Sydney Roosters youngster Enzo Griffier.
See every player and club on our France Rugby League World Cup squad page, and check the injury list.
Has France Ever Won the Rugby League World Cup?
Not yet. France’s best results are runners-up finishes in 1954 and 1968.
They hosted the first World Cup in 1954, and the trophy is named after French administrator Paul Barrière.
France qualified for 2026 with a 36-0 win over Jamaica in Albi.
Read the full story on our Rugby League World Cup history page and see every champion on our Rugby League World Cup winners list.
Can France Reach the Rugby League World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals?
France are in Pool C, but they play the three Pool B teams: Samoa, England and Lebanon.
The six teams in Pools B and C share one table, and only the top two reach the semi-finals.
With Samoa and England both strong favourites, the Lebanon game on 1 November could decide France’s tournament.
Follow the table on our Rugby League World Cup results page, and see our Rugby League World Cup predictions.
France Rugby League World Cup 2026 Results
France haven’t played yet. Their first result comes on Friday 16 October.
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Samoa v France | 16 October, to be played |
| England v France | 24 October, to be played |
| Lebanon v France | 1 November, to be played |
We add each score here straight after the final whistle.
The next game at the top of this page also changes after every match.
France Women’s Rugby League World Cup Fixtures
France’s women are also at the World Cup, in a group with PNG, New Zealand and Fiji.
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| Sat 17 Oct | PNG v France, Port Moresby |
| Sun 25 Oct | New Zealand v France |
| Sat 31 Oct | Fiji v France |
Their opener in Port Moresby is a double-header, before PNG’s men play Lebanon at the same ground.
The top two in each women’s group reach the semi-finals.
See every women’s match in our Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide.
France Rugby League World Cup Tickets
Tickets for France’s matches start from $19 AUD on Ticketmaster, the official seller.
The two Parramatta games are part of big double-headers, so they’re good value for neutral fans too.
See our tickets guide for how to buy safely.
Travelling from France? An Australia eSIM from Airalo keeps your phone working from the moment you land.
France Schedule Updates
13 October 2026: Page published with France’s three pool fixtures, kick-off times and team news.
France’s team for the Samoa match was named on 13 October and is in the team list section above.
After full-time on 16 October, we’ll add the score and move the next game to England vs France.
France Rugby League Next Game: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about France at the World Cup.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For full details, see the fixture and team sections above.
When do France play next?
France play Samoa on Friday 16 October 2026 at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta.
Kick-off is 5:45pm Sydney time, which is 8:45am in France.
It’s France’s first match of the tournament.
Who do France play at the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
Samoa on 16 October, England on 24 October and Lebanon on 1 November.
The England match is in Perth.
The other two are at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta.
What time is Samoa vs France in France?
8:45am French time on Friday 16 October.
That’s 7:45am in the UK.
In Sydney, the match kicks off at 5:45pm.
Who is France’s rugby league coach?
Laurent Frayssinous coaches France at the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
He named a 23-man squad on 1 October.
Most of his players come from Catalans and Toulouse.
Conclusion
France’s World Cup starts against Samoa in Parramatta on 16 October.
Then come England in Perth and Lebanon back in Parramatta, with a semi-final place the goal.
Bookmark this page, because we update the next game, team news and results after every match.
Sizing up the opposition? See the England next game and Lebanon next game pages, and visit rlwc2026.com for official news.
