Rugby League: “34 years without an English win is starting to get a long time!” The show is this Saturday in Toulouse, three France-England!

To discuss this France-England, Saint-Coutinois Gilles Dumas, responsible at the highest level of the Federation and as a former player, the captain of the French team during the last victory against Great-Brittany!

This Saturday, June 29, is the third France-England doubleheader (women, men) at the Ernst-Wallen Stadium. Can you explain to us the implementation and origin of this dual test?

Since the 2018-2019 season, France have not faced a major nation. The French Confederation is no longer part of the International Confederation. In 2020, after Luc Lacoste took over as president, one of the first projects of the new president and his leadership team was to renew sporting ties with the best nation on the continent, England. Personally, I consider the reconnection with England to be a positive aspect. After several meetings with the English Federation, a double test with women and senior men was formalised. The first clash took place in 2021 in Perpignan. In 2022, it did not take place following the World Cup. In 2023, it is planned for Warrington. Toulouse will host the 2024 edition this Saturday.

France – England Women is the first meeting on this Franco-English plateau. How the Women’s XIII works in France. What is its evolution?

Women’s rugby union in France is moving in the right direction. Within the federation, there are plans to form a national U17 team. Also, the French team has secured a ticket for the 2026 World Cup. Defeated Greece in Marmonte (58-0) last April. On Saturday, the women met Serbia in Belgrade. As they won (again 58-0), they qualified for the World Cup!

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What are the expectations of the management of the France team facing England?

England are a key nation in international competition, third in previous World Cups. The English have the Super League championship, which is closely followed. It is a very structured competition. The English will be favorites on Saturday. For our part, we want to benchmark ourselves against a world title contender. For this test, we will have the opportunity to rely on Perrin Monserrat, who plays in Australia, and Elisa Agba, who is licensed in England, in York.

The French men’s team was more dominant in Warrington last year (64-0). On Saturday, will the fight be even more balanced?

Last season, the experiment was very poorly planned. This happened in April. Recruiting Super League players was difficult. We fielded a team of mainly elite and championship players and the clash was uneven. Currently, we have a squad of fifteen players playing in England (Super League, Championship). We generally have to believe in the contribution of the Dragons Catalans and Toulouse Olympians. By force of circumstances, the next Toulouse test promises to be more balanced than Warrington.

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The France men’s team has yet to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which will feature ten teams. Is she still in the running for qualification?

Eight quarter-finalists in the last World Cup have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, with two more tickets left to check. I would like to point out that France moved up to eighth place in the international confederation rankings after victories over Serbia and a double Test victory in Kenya. Next October, France’s XIII will face Ukraine and Wales. If they win these two matches, the French team will represent the European continent in the World Series. A representative from Africa, Oceania and the Americas completes the World Series schedule. These “rectangular” numbers one and two officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

On April 6, 1990, in Leeds, you were part of the team that last beat England (25-18), then known as Great Britain. What do you remember from this feat?

It is a very justifiable pride and a great memory. In the next day’s newspaper Team, Ayrton Senna made the front page, but, on the front page, the sports daily highlighted our performance. We say it was a surprise, but we were very confident within the team. Three weeks ago in Perpignan, we lost at the end of the match (8-4), we disallowed a try and it was correct. If there was a video then it would have been valid! In November 1989, we hosted New Zealand and lost narrowly (16-14). Honestly, a win against the Kiwis might make us smile. The Leeds match was well prepared. Jack Jorda, the trainer, was working with video for the first time. We carefully dismantled our opponents’ game. During the meeting, we did not doubt even though we quickly fell behind (12-0). Then, the planets are aligned and we reduce the score by half time (12-8). The English, including Shaun Edwards, are getting out of their game plan. We are pictured at the final whistle, in the long corridors leading to the changing rooms since Headingley Stadium in Leeds was revamped in 2018. Indeed, thirty four years have passed without defeating the British…