Wales is not going to function on the 2026 Rugby League World Cup after a heavy defeat to France of their qualifying play-off remaining in Perpignan on Saturday.
France have now earned a spot on the 2025 World Sequence, through which the final obtainable 2026 World Cup spots might be on the road.
The hosts had been 6-0 up after seven minutes on the Stade Municipal St Esteve when Arthur Romano crossed, with Catalans Dragons team-mate Cesar Rouge including the conversion.
Rouge then scored two additional tries, ending off a chopping transfer on the best wing for an unconverted attempt earlier than taking an inside ball off Theo Fages for an additional six-pointer, earlier than Romain Franco went over on the nook to make it 20-0 after 26 minutes.
Wales hit again when skipper Elliot Kear and Mike Butt mixed to ship Rhys Williams in for the attempt, with Matty Fozard changing to make it 20-6 at half-time.
Document cap holder Williams is now solely 4 factors away from changing into simply the fourth man to achieve a century of factors for Wales, with the rating additionally transferring him above dual-code nice Jonathan Davies into fourth within the listing of all-time factors scorers for Wales.
France prolonged their lead early within the second when Wales did not mark up at a play-the-ball, permitting Eloi Pelissier to squeeze over near the posts.
Interchange Justin Sangaré used all his appreciable dimension to pressure his method over for a sixth French attempt.
The hosts continued to show the screw and, regardless of courageous Welsh defending, Fages and Lambert Belmas – twice – crossed for additional French tries.
Wales had named an unchanged 19-man squad from the aspect that beat Serbia 48-0 to achieve the play-off remaining, however Max Clarke was dominated out of the matchday beginning workforce by means of harm, with Matt Ross changing him and Sam Grice in line for a senior debut from the bench.
Wales head coach John Kear was once more absent after the 69-year-old was taken in poor health on Sunday, recuperating at dwelling after leaving hospital.
Previous to the sport towards Serbia, Kear had criticised the qualification course of for the 2026 World Cup and Saturday’s end in France is not going to have improved his opinion a couple of event that has been trimmed down from 16 to 10 groups.
Assistant coach Mark Moxon remained in cost in France, with the assist of Wales Rugby League director of efficiency Clive Griffiths.
Wales reached the play-off remaining with a 48-0 victory over Serbia in Carcassone on Tuesday, whereas hosts France beat Ukraine 74-8 later that day.