France and Ireland announce Wheelchair squads for this weekends pair of games

France will take on Ireland this weekend in two wheelchair internationals for world ranking points. The matches will be played on Saturday 11 July (kick off 4pm, local time) and Sunday 12 July (6pm) both at the Halle Marcel Cerdan in Perpignan.

France head coach Cyril Torres will play different squads for each game to give everyone a run out. “This weekend is a great opportunity,’ he said. “I’m thrilled to be able to test players against the Ireland team as we build towards October and the World Cup. We’re not far off the announcement now for that final squad —it’s exciting,”

Included in his selection are the likes of uncle and nephew Gilles and Nicolas Clauselles, together with 2024 Golden Boot winner Jérémy Bourson. Among likely new caps are Thibaud Dananchy from Lyon, Montauban player Jérôme Seixas and Toulouse’s William Drouard, while two-time World Champion Dany Denuwelaere returns to the international stage after a five-year break.

Ireland travel with a largely settled group building on this year’s third successive Celtic Cup win. Jack Mangan has retained his place in the squad following his debut in that competition, with James McCarthy also returning to action.

Ireland Head Coach, Phil Roberts, noted: “This is an amazing opportunity to examine our Rugby League World Cup preparations, and we are very grateful to Cyril and the FFRXIII for arranging and hosting these matches. This weekend will be a great test for our squad, one which we're excited for, and will hopefully benefit both teams by the time we get to Wollongong in October.”

France Squad (Saturday):
Lionel Alazard (Pandas Montauban Handisport), Nicolas Clausells (Dragons Catalans Handirugby), Thibaud Dananchy (Decines RL), Dany Denuwelaere (Stade Toulousain Olympique St Jory), Damien Doré (Dragons Catalans Handirugby), Florian Guttadoro (SO Avignon XIII), Julien Pennella (Aingirak Euskadi), Jérôme Seixas (Pandas Montauban Handisport)

France Squad (Sunday):
Jérémy Bourson (Dragons Catalans Handirugby), Gilles Clausells (Dragons Catalans Handirugby), William Drouard (Stade Toulousain Olympique St Jory), Guillaume Dubruel (Stade Toulousain Olympique St Jory), Jorge Gelade Panzo (Dragons Catalans Handirugby), Jonathan Hivernat (Dragons Catalans Handirugby), Léo Hivernat (Dragons Catalans Handirugby), Adrien Zittel (SO Avignon XIII)

Ireland Squad:
Joesph Calcott, Phil Roberts (Connacht), Toby Burton Carter, Mel Griffith, Jack Mangan, Oran Spain (Leinster), Cian Horgan, James McCarthy (Munster), Peter Johnston, Tom Martin (Ulster).