Neutral Video Referee Appointed for England vs France Clashes in Toulouse
On Saturday, the highly anticipated rugby league matches between England and France in Toulouse will see a neutral video referee officiating the proceedings. The action begins at 2 pm with the England Women’s team taking on their French counterparts, followed by the men’s clash at 5 pm. Rounding out the day’s events is the Championship fixture between Toulouse Olympique and Featherstone Rovers, celebrating 90 years of the sport in France.
England head coach Shaun Wane is set to announce his squad for the fixtures this afternoon at 3 pm, with fans expecting a few surprise inclusions as he focuses on youth development for the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, the England Women’s team has been named by Stuart Barrow, with 17-year-old Isabel Rowe earning a spot in the 19-player squad.
The officiating teams have now been confirmed, with Geoffrey Poumes of France taking charge of the Women’s match, supported by French touch judges Louis Moreau and Florian Gely, and Lucie Peyre as the reserve referee. For the Men’s game, England’s Tom Grant will be the referee, assisted by French touch judges Stephane Vincent and Quentin Boissonade, with Enzo Peyre, Lucie’s brother, serving as the reserve official. The video referee for both matches will be Australian James Vella, a familiar face in Super League.
“This slate of rugby league fixtures promises an exciting day of action in Toulouse, with the matches set to captivate fans and showcase the sport’s enduring presence in France.”
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