Mid-season international confirmed for Toulouse
This year's international match between England Rugby League and France will be staged in the French city of Toulouse at Stade Ernest Wallon. The match will take place on Friday 27th June 2008 and the kick-off will be 9pm (local time).
It will be the first time that England and France have played in a full Rugby League international since 1999.
Two matches were played in October of that year with England winning on both occasions (28-20 in Carcassonne and 50-20 in Hull).
The England side also beat France 26-10 in the Federation Shield tournament in 2006 (when England did not include Great Britain players).
Stade Ernest-Wallon is also the home of the Toulouse Rugby Union club.
Commenting on the announcement, England Rugby League Head Coach Tony Smith said, 'We are delighted that this match has been confirmed for Toulouse.
'The match will be a significant challenge for our team and a great opportunity to renew a great historical rivalry between the two nations. It will also provide us with a valuable opportunity to play together before the Rugby League World Cup tournament and become accustomed to the type of travelling we will experience in Australia next autumn.'
Smith added, 'The England team for this international will be selected on form and with the World Cup very much in mind, rather than the more experimental side that we fielded in last season's Great Britain fixture against France'.
Also commenting Christophe Jouffret, the General Secretary of the French Rugby League Federation and the Director of the French National team said,'Stade Ernest Wallon and the city of Toulouse will provide a tremendous backdrop for what will be a fantastic contest between the two nations.
'There is a long established international sporting rivalry between England and France and we believe this Test match will prove to be a terrifically successful event for international Rugby League.'
Details of ticket availability for English supporters and other details of this match will be confirmed in due course.
Please check www.therfl.co.uk for further details.
