Saturday will be the 20th meeting between England Women and France Women. Here is a closer look at some of the key threats for France.
Head Coach
Romain Maillot is the head coach of the French side and was only appointed earlier in the year. Maillot took over following the departure of Vincent Baloup. The new head coach spent five years as part of the coaching staff for the France under 19’s, before joining Albi, where he was assistant coach for two years.
Key Players
The majority of the squad did not face England last year; however, Elisa Akpa featured last season and will once again pose a threat to England. Akpa captained the French side during their very dominant 116-0 victory against Serbia.
Akpa also featured last year for York in the Betfred Women’s Super League season. Akpa started in the second row during York’s 12-4 Grand Final defeat.
Another player who featured in the Betfred Women’s Super League last season was Laureane Biville. Biville played for Wigan Warriors in the centres in 2022, which is also where she featured in the Mid-Season International last year.
Biville proved she was a try scorer during the BWSL season, which included a try live on Our League when Wigan Warriors travelled to the York. Biville scored four tries during the dominant success against Serbia.
In 2023, Biville plays for RC Lescure Arthès XIII.
Last Meeting
Saturday’s match will be a repeat of the 2022 Mid-Season International.
After a cagey start, England found a breakthrough after Hollie-Mae Dodd skipped through the French defence.
Two quick tries from Caitlin Beevers and Amy Hardcastle put England into a strong position heading to half-time.
France hit back thanks to Christina Song Puche.
After the break, Hardcastle completed a brace and Georgia Roche added a further score.
Substitute Mailys Borak touched down for France.
However, England added tries from Roche and Fran Goldthorp to complete the 36-10 success in Warrington.
France squad
Elisa Akpa (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan), Lauréane Biville (RC Lescure Arthès XIII), Margot Canal (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan), Lauriane Canet (XIII Limouxin), Cloé Guillerot (RC Lescure Arthès XIII), Tallis Kuresa (RC Bègles XIII), Inès Legout (AS Ayguesvives XIII), Sarah Menaa (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan), Lise Michel (AS Ayguesvives XIII), Zoé Pastre Courtine (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan), Mahault Pommier (AS Ayguesvives XIII), Perle Ramazeilles (RC Lescure Arthès XIII), Fanny Ramos (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan), Alice Rieunaud (RC Lescure Arthès XIII), Justine Roses (Saint-Estève XIII Catalan), Dorine Samarra (RC Lescure Arthès XIII), Manon Samarra (RC Lescure Arthès XIII), Salomé Segala (RC Lescure Arthès XIII), Amael Vilanove (AS Ayguesvives XIII), Nabila Zaghdoudi (Toulouse Ovalie)
Tickets for the Women’s and Men’s international double-header at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium are available to buy online now from only £20 Adults and £10 Under 16s. For every ticket sold, £2.50 will be donated to the MND Association. Cash turnstiles will also be in operation on the day. The Women’s match kicks off first at 2pm, followed by the Men’s at 4.30, with live and exclusive coverage of both games on Sky Sports Arena from 1.30pm
