France national rugby league team

When did France’s team begin?

The French rugby league movement took shape in 1934 after Jean Galia helped introduce the code. France played England in Paris on 15 April that year, losing 32–21. The federation’s history and match archive establish 1934 as the national side’s starting year. Rugby league’s later suppression under the Vichy regime and post-war revival are important parts of the French game’s history.

Key milestones

1. 1934 — France played its first international against England in Paris.
2. 1951 — A celebrated tour of Australia became a high point of French rugby league.
3. 1954 — France hosted the inaugural World Cup and finished runners-up to Great Britain.
4. 1968 — France reached another World Cup final, losing to Australia.

Understanding this team

The national team represents France in international rugby league. Club teams such as Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique have separate competition records. Men’s, women’s and wheelchair national honours must also be recorded separately.

Sources and further reading

• FFR XIII: history and heritage
• FFR XIII: national team match archive
• RFL: France’s 90th anniversary

Profile researched: 24 October 2026. Dates distinguish representative-team origins from governing-body formation where the sources make that distinction.