Sangare included in France squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Leeds Rhinos prop Justin Sangare has been named in Laurent Frayssinous' extended France squad as Les Blues look to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in Australia.

France are one of four European teams that head to the Stade Albert-Domec in Carcassonne as they join Ukraine, Serbia and Wales who also want to move a step closer to being one of the ten teams at the World Cup in two year's time. Kicking off on Tuesday 22nd October, Serbia face off against Wales in the first semi final of the day (kick off 5pm local time), before France clash with Ukraine at 7.30pm local time. Both semi final winners then progress to the Final, which is to be played at Saint-Esteve's Municipality Stadium on Saturday 26 October (2.30pm local time).

The overall winner of the tournament will represent Europe next year in the 2025 World Series, alongside Cook Islands, South Africa and Jamaica, who are also looking to hold one of the remaining two places at the World Cup. Australia, Samoa, New Zealand, England, Lebanon, Tonga, Fiji and Papua New Guinea have already qualified.

Head coach Frayssinous, said: “We are aware of the challenge that awaits us during this European Cup and we have the clear and precise objective of getting closer to qualifying for the next World Cup. This requires a victory in this tournament and we are all excited at the idea of meeting again and we can't wait to start preparing together."

The full France squad:

Guillermo AISPURO-BICHET (Catalan Dragons), Lucas Albert (Carcassonne XIII), Vincent Albert (Carcassonne XIII), Lambert Belmas (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Yacine Ben Abdeslem (Catalan Dragons), Clement Boyer (Carcassonne XIII), Tiaki Chan (Wigan Warriors), Mathieu Cozza (Wakefield Trinity), Alrix Da Costa (Catalan Dragons), Théo Fages (Catalan Dragons), Romain Franco (Bradford Bulls), Jason Goffin (Albi RL XIII), Mickael Goudemand, Louis Jouffrett (Halifax Panthers), Thomas Lacans (Featherstone Rovers), Benjamin Laguerre (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Matthieu Laguerre (Catalan Dragons), Anthony Marion (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Clément Martin (Catalan Dragons), Hakim Miloudi(Pia XIII), Nittim Pederero (Albi RL XIII), Eloi Pélissier (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Arthur Romano (Catalan Dragons), Caesar Rouge (Catalan Dragons), Hugo Salabio (Huddersfield Giants), Justin Sangare (Leeds Rhinos), Maxime Stefani (Toulouse Olympique XIII), Ugo Tison (London Broncos), Florian Vailhen (Pia XIII)