2015 Rugby League European Championship

2015 Rugby League European Championship
Number of teams	4
Host countries	Wales France Scotland Ireland
Winner	Wales (7th title)
Matches played	6
Attendance	15,301 (2,550 per match)
Points scored	225 (37.5 per match)
Tries scored	41 (6.83 per match)
Top scorer	Courtney Davies (22)
Top try scorer	Tony Gigot (4)
Tournaments  < 2014 2018 >

The 2015 Rugby League European Championship was an international rugby league football tournament. The tournament took place between 16 October and 7 November in Wales, France, Scotland and Ireland.

Scotland were the defending champions. Four teams competed in the 2015 event; Wales, Scotland, France and Ireland. ^[1] Wales won the European Championship after winning all of their games putting them on top of the table with the maximum points tally of 6. ^[2]

After the tournament's last game there would be no European Championship tournament until the 2018 Championship due to the events occurring such as the 2016 Four Nations, 2017 World Cup qualifying competitions and the 2017 World Cup Finals.

Teams

Team	Coach	Captain	RLIF Rank
France	Richard Agar	Jason Baitieri	5
Ireland	Mark Aston	Liam Finn	7
Scotland	Steve McCormack	Danny Brough	8
Wales	John Kear	Craig Kopczak	9

Squads

France

Head Coach: Richard Agar

• On 1 October, Richard Agar named the following 23 players as part of his squad in preparation for the tournament. ^[3]

Player	Games	Points	Position	2015 Club
Morgan Escaré	3	4	FB	Catalans Dragons
Jordan Sigismeau	3	4	WG	AS Saint Estève
Damien Cardace	1	0	WG	Lézignan Sangliers
Jean-Philippe Baile	3	0	CE	Bradford Bulls
Tony Gigot	3	16	CE	Catalans Dragons
Benjamin Jullien	3	0	CE	Warrington Wolves
Olivier Arnaud	2	4	CE	Sporting Olympique Avignon
Théo Fages	2	4	SO	Salford Red Devils
Stanislas Robin	3	8	SO	AS Saint Estève
William Barthau	2	2	SH	London Broncos
Rémy Marginet	2	14	SH	AS Saint Estève
Mourad Kriouache	0	0	SH	Toulouse Olympique
Julian Bousquet	3	0	PR	Catalans Dragons
Mickaël Simon	3	4	PR	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Gadwin Springer	3	0	PR	Castleford Tigers
Clément Boyer	1	0	PR	Toulouse Olympique
John Boudebza	3	1	HK	Hull Kingston Rovers
Kevin Larroyer	3	8	SR	Hull Kingston Rovers
Antoni Maria	2	0	SR	Catalans Dragons
Florent Rouanet	1	0	SR	Lézignan Sangliers
Mickaël Goudemand	0	0	SR	Sporting Olympique Avignon
Jason Baitieri (C)	2	0	LF	Catalans Dragons
Ugo Perez	3	4	LF	AS Saint Estève

Ireland

Head Coach: Mark Aston

• On 2 October, Mark Aston named the following 22 players as part of his squad in preparation for the tournament. ^[4]

• On 6 November, Robbie Mulhern was a late call-up for Mark Aston's team in the lead up to their crucial final match against Wales. ^[5]

Player	Games	Points	Position	2015 Club
Scott Grix	3	4	FB	Huddersfield Giants
Callum Mulkeen	3	4	WG	Gloucestershire All Golds
Casey Dunne	3	4	WG	Athboy Longhorns
Bradley Hargreaves	3	8	CE	Rochdale Hornets
James Mendeika	2	0	CE	Bradford Bulls
Liam Finn (C)	3	14	SO	Castleford Tigers
Ben Johnston	3	0	SH	Halifax
Gregg McNally	0	0	SH	Leigh Centurions
Joseph Keyes	3	0	SH	London Broncos
Matty Hadden	3	0	PR	Rochdale Hornets
Sean Hesketh	1	0	PR	Batley Bulldogs
Luke Ambler	3	8	PR	Halifax
Colton Roche	0	0	PR	York City Knights
Gareth Gill	1	0	PR	Ballynahinch Rabbitohs
Danny Bridge	3	0	SR	Rochdale Hornets
Will Hope	3	0	SR	Oldham R.L.F.C.
Elliot Cosgrove	3	0	SR	Batley Bulldogs
Oliver Roberts	3	0	SR	Huddersfield Giants
Haydn Peacock	2	0	SR	AS Carcassonne
Graham O'Keeffe	2	0	SR	Oxford RLFC
Dave Allen	0	0	SR	Whitehaven
Bob Beswick	3	0	LF	Leigh Centurions

Scotland

Head Coach: Steve McCormack

• On 30 September, Steve McCormack named the following 29 players as part of his squad in preparation for the tournament. ^[6]

• On 9 October, Steve McCormack brought in two new players to the squad after the withdrawals from seven players: Craig Borthwick, Mitch Stringer, Brett Carter, Jon Molloy, Callum Phillips and Brett Phillips. Billy McConnachie was also suspended for the first two games. The two new players McCormack brought in are: Louis Senter and Joe McLean. ^[7]

• On 7 November, Sam Brooks was called up to play for Steve McCormack's side in the final game of the tournament against France to fill in for injuries. ^[8] Gavin Grant was also called up to play in the team, for the game against France, which became the youngest ever international senior Scottish team to play an international match with an average age of 22. ^[9]

Player	Games	Points	Position	2015 Club
Alex Walker	3	0	FB	London Broncos
Harvey Burnett	3	0	WG	Unattached
Richard Harris	3	0	WG	Warrington Wolves
David Scott	3	4	WG	Doncaster
Craig Robertson	0	0	WG	Edinburgh Eagles
Ben Hellewell	2	0	CE	London Broncos
Shane Toal	2	8	CE	Barrow Raiders
Finlay Hutchison	1	0	CE	Edinburgh Eagles
Scott Plumridge	2	0	CE	Edinburgh Eagles
Danny Brough (C)	2	10	SO	Huddersfield Giants
Oscar Thomas	3	10	SO	London Broncos
Louis Senter	0	0	SH	Easterhouse Panthers
Finn Murphy	0	0	SH	Edinburgh Eagles
Sam Barlow	0	0	PR	Leigh Centurions
Ben Kavanagh	3	0	PR	Widnes Vikings
Adam Walker	1	0	PR	Hull Kingston Rovers
Jonathan Walker	2	0	PR	Leigh Centurions
Joe McLean	3	0	PR	Gloucestershire All Golds
Billy McConnachie	0	0	PR	Ipswich Jets
Josh Barlow	0	0	HK	Swinton Lions
Liam Hood	3	4	HK	Salford Red Devils
Lewis Clarke	2	0	HK	Edinburgh Eagles
Sonny Esslemont	3	0	SR	Hull Kingston Rovers
Corbyn Kilday	2	0	SR	Central Queensland Capras
Danny Addy	3	8	LF	Bradford Bulls
Dale Ferguson	3	8	LF	Bradford Bulls

Wales

Head Coach: John Kear

• On 16 September, John's first selection move of 2015 was naming his new captain as Lloyd White. ^[10]

• On 29 September, John Kear named the following 24 players as part of his squad in preparation for the tournament. ^[11]

• On 2 October, Matty Fozard pulled out of the squad due to a broken jaw. He was replaced by Connor Farrer. ^[12]

• On 8 October, James Geurtjens of the Coventry Bears was called up into John Kear's squad. ^[13]

• On 12 October, captain Lloyd White withdrew from the team due to a knee injury. ^[14] Craig Kopczak was therefore announced as the new captain. ^[15]

• On 21 October, Coventry Bears prop Morgan Evans replaced Ben Flower in the team. ^[16]

Player	Games	Points	Position	2015 Club
Elliot Kear	3	4	FB	London Broncos
Lewis Reece	3	4	FB	Gloucestershire All Golds
Jamie Murphy	1	0	FB	Gloucestershire All Golds
Dalton Grant	3	12	WG	Dewsbury Rams
Rhys Williams	3	0	WG	London Broncos
Michael Channing	3	0	WG	Castleford Tigers
Regan Grace	2	0	WG	St. Helens
Christiaan Roets	3	0	CE	North Wales Crusaders
Rob Massam	0	0	CE	North Wales Crusaders
Courtney Davies	3	22	SO	Gloucestershire All Golds
Steve Parry	3	8	SO	Gloucestershire All Golds
Ollie Olds	3	0	SH	Souths Logan Magpies
Joe Burke	3	4	PR	North Wales Crusaders
Dan Fleming	0	0	PR	Bradford Bulls
Craig Kopczak (C)	3	0	PR	Huddersfield Giants
Anthony Walker	3	4	PR	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Morgan Evans	2	0	PR	Coventry Bears
James Geurtjens	0	0	PR	Coventry Bears
Philip Joseph	3	0	HK	Widnes Vikings
Connor Farrer	2	0	HK	South Wales Scorpions
Matt Barron	1	0	SR	Newcastle Thunder
Ricky Hough	0	0	SR	Newcastle Thunder
Rhodri Lloyd	3	4	SR	Wigan Warriors
Morgan Knowles	1	0	LF	St. Helens

Venues

The games will be played at the following venues in Wales, France, Scotland and Ireland.

Wrexham	Albi	Galashiels	Cardiff	Avignon	Bray
Racecourse Ground	Stadium Municipal d'Albi	Netherdale	Cardiff Arms Park	Parc des Sports	Carlisle Grounds
Capacity: 15,550	Capacity: 13,058	Capacity: 4,000	Capacity: 12,125	Capacity: 17,518	Capacity: 7,000

Standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Ag.	Diff	Points
Wales	3	3	0	0	62	22	+40	6
France	3	2	0	1	69	46	+23	4
Ireland	3	1	0	2	42	83	–41	2
Scotland	3	0	0	3	52	74	–22	0

Fixtures

Note*France vs Wales Round 2 fixture has been moved to the 30th due to France's fixture Archived 26 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine with England on 24 October before England's series against New Zealand.

Round 1

16 October 2015

Wales	18 – 12	Scotland

Racecourse Ground, Wrexham

17 October 2015

France	31 – 14	Ireland

Stadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi

Round 2

23 October 2015

Scotland	22 – 24	Ireland

Netherdale, Galashiels

*30 October 2015

Wales	14 – 6	France

Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff

Round 3

7 November 2015

France	32 – 18	Scotland

Parc des Sports, Avignon

7 November 2015

Ireland	4 – 30	Wales

Carlisle Grounds, Bray

Matches details

All times are local: UTC+1/CET in French venues. UTC+0/WET in Irish venues. UTC+0/GMT in Welsh venues. UTC+0/GMT in Scottish venues.

Wales vs Scotland

16 October 2015 20:00

Wales	18 – 12	Scotland
Try: Parry 9' c Grant 37' Walker 64' c Goal: Davies (3/5) 10', 15', 65'	Report	Try: Ferguson 27' c Thomas 78' c Goal: Brough (2/2) 28', 80'

Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Attendance: 1,253 Referee: Joe Cobb

FB 1 Elliot Kear RW 2 Rhys Williams RC 3 Michael Channing LC 4 Christiaan Roets LW 5 Dalton Grant SO 7 Ollie Olds SH 24 Courtney Davies PR 17 Anthony Walker HK 18 Steve Parry PR 10 Craig Kopczak (c) SR 11 Rhodri Lloyd SR 14 Lewis Reece LF 13 Philip Joseph Substitutions: IC 12 Morgan Knowles IC 20 Joe Burke IC 21 Matty Barron IC 25 Jamie Murphy Coach: John Kear

FB 1 Oscar Thomas RW 2 David Scott RC 3 Ben Hellewell LC 4 Harvey Burnett LW 5 Alex Walker SO 6 Danny Brough (c) SH 7 Danny Addy PR 8 Adam Walker HK 9 Liam Hood PR 10 Jonathan Walker SR 11 Sonny Esslemont SR 12 Dale Ferguson LF 13 Ben Kavanagh Substitutions: IC 14 Joe McClean IC 15 Corbyn Kilday IC 16 Richard Harris IC 17 Scott Plumridge Coach: Steve McCormack

• The victory for Wales ended their spree of 12 consecutive defeats with their last victory occurring four years ago.

France vs Ireland

17 October 2015 15:30

France	31 – 14	Ireland
Try: Robin 24' Sigismeau 30' Gigot (2) 44' c, 74' Fages 50' c Larroyer 78' c Goal: Marginet (3/6) 45', 51', 79' Drop Goal: Boudebza (1/1) 73'	Report	Try: Dunne 19' c Hargreaves 55' c Goal: Finn (3/3) 20', 40', 56'

Stadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi Attendance: 4,681 Referee: Phil Bentham

FB 1 Morgan Escaré RW 2 Jordan Sigismeau RC 3 Tony Gigot LC 4 Benjamin Jullien LW 5 Damien Cardace SO 6 Théo Fages (c) SH 7 Rémy Marginet PR 8 Julian Bousquet HK 9 John Boudebza PR 10 Mickaël Simon SR 11 Kevin Larroyer SR 12 Ugo Perez LF 13 Gadwin Springer Substitutes IC 14 Stanislas Robin IC 15 Jean-Philippe Baile IC 16 Antoni Maria IC 17 Clément Boyer Coach: Richard Agar

FB 1 Scott Grix RW 2 Bradley Hargreaves RC 3 James Mendeika LC 4 Elliot Cosgrove LW 5 Casey Dunne SO 6 Ben Johnston SH 7 Liam Finn (c) PR 8 Danny Bridge HK 9 Bob Beswick PR 10 Luke Ambler SR 11 Haydn Peacock SR 12 Will Hope LF 13 Oliver Roberts Substitutes IC 14 Joseph Keyes IC 15 Callum Mulkeen IC 16 Graham O'Keeffe IC 17 Matty Hadden Coach: Mark Aston

Scotland vs Ireland

23 October 2015 19:30

Scotland	22 – 24	Ireland
Try: Addy (2) 22', 43' c Toal 47' c Ferguson 60' c Goal: Brough (3/4) 44', 48', 61'	Report	Try: Ambler (2) 7' c, 34' c Hargreaves 13' Grix 72' c Goal: Finn (4/5) 8', 35', 38', 73'

Netherdale, Galashiels Attendance: 1,197 Referee: Chris Kendall

FB 1 David Scott RW 2 Shane Toal RC 3 Ben Hellewell LC 4 Richard Harris LW 5 Alex Walker SO 6 Danny Brough (c) SH 7 Oscar Thomas PR 8 Ben Kavanagh HK 9 Liam Hood PR 10 Jonathan Walker SR 11 Sonny Esslemont SR 12 Dale Ferguson LF 13 Danny Addy Substitutions: IC 14 Joe McClean IC 15 Corbyn Kilday IC 16 Lewis Clarke IC 17 Harvey Burnett Coach: Steve McCormack

FB 1 Scott Grix RW 2 Bradley Hargreaves RC 3 James Mendeika LC 4 Elliot Cosgrove LW 5 Casey Dunne SO 6 Ben Johnston SH 7 Liam Finn (c) PR 8 Matty Hadden HK 9 Bob Beswick PR 10 Luke Ambler SR 11 Danny Bridge SR 12 Will Hope LF 13 Oliver Roberts Substitutes IC 14 Callum Mulkeen IC 15 Graham O'Keeffe IC 16 Joseph Keyes IC 17 Sean Hesketh Coach: Mark Aston

Wales vs France

30 October 2015 13:30

Wales	14 – 6	France
Try: Grant 27' Burke 46' c Davies 51' Goal: Davies (1/3) 47'	Report	Try: Simon 73' c Goal: Barthau (1/1) 73'

Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Attendance: 1,028 Referee: Robert Hicks

FB 1 Elliot Kear RW 2 Rhys Williams RC 3 Michael Channing LC 4 Christiaan Roets LW 5 Dalton Grant SO 7 Ollie Olds SH 24 Courtney Davies PR 17 Anthony Walker HK 18 Steve Parry PR 10 Craig Kopczak (c) SR 11 Rhodri Lloyd SR 14 Lewis Reece LF 13 Philip Joseph Substitutions: IC 8 Morgan Evans IC 19 Connor Farrer IC 20 Joe Burke IC 22 Regan Grace Coach: John Kear

FB 1 Morgan Escaré RW 2 Jordan Sigismeau RC 3 Tony Gigot LC 4 Jean-Philippe Baile LW 5 Olivier Arnaud SO 6 Théo Fages SH 7 William Barthau PR 8 Julian Bousquet HK 9 John Boudebza PR 10 Mickaël Simon SR 11 Kevin Larroyer SR 12 Ugo Perez LF 13 Jason Baitieri (c) Substitutes IC 14 Stanislas Robin IC 15 Antoni Maria IC 16 Gadwin Springer IC 17 Benjamin Jullien Coach: Richard Agar

• With the defeat, France still haven’t won a test in South Wales since 1948.

France vs Scotland

7 November 2015 15:30

France	32 – 18	Scotland
Try: Arnaud 3' Gigot (2) 15', 38' Larroyer 22' Escaré 26' Robin 30' Perez 60' Goal: Marginet (4/7)	Report	Try: Toal 9' c Scott 66' c Hood 70' c Goal: Thomas (3/3)

Parc des Sports, Avignon Attendance: 5,737 Referee: Gareth Hewer Player of the Match: Tony Gigot (France)

FB 1 Morgan Escaré RW 2 Jordan Sigismeau RC 3 Tony Gigot LC 4 Benjamin Jullien LW 5 Olivier Arnaud SO 6 Stanislas Robin SH 7 Rémy Marginet PR 8 Julian Bousquet HK 9 John Boudebza PR 10 Mickaël Simon SR 11 Kevin Larroyer SR 12 Ugo Perez LF 13 Jason Baitieri (c) Substitutes IC 14 William Barthau IC 15 Jean-Philippe Baile IC 16 Gadwin Springer IC 17 Florent Rouanet Coach: Richard Agar

FB 1 David Scott RW 2 Shane Toal RC 3 Harvey Burnett LC 4 Richard Harris LW 5 Alex Walker SO 6 Danny Addy SH 7 Oscar Thomas PR 8 Joe McClean HK 9 Liam Hood PR 10 Ben Kavanagh SR 11 Sonny Esslemont SR 12 Dale Ferguson (c) LF 13 Sam Brooks Substitutions: IC 14 Scott Plumridge IC 15 Gavin Grant IC 16 Lewis Clarke IC 17 Finlay Hutchison Coach: Steve McCormack

Ireland vs Wales

7 November 2015 17:00

Ireland	4 – 30	Wales
Try: Mulkeen 72' Goal: Finn (0/1)	Report	Try: Grant 7' c Reece 20' c Parry 33' c Lloyd 38' Kear 57' c Goal: Davies (5/6) 7', 20', 33', 57', 60'

Carlisle Grounds, Bray Attendance: 1,405 Referee: Ben Thaler

FB 1 Scott Grix RW 2 Bradley Hargreaves RC 3 Callum Mulkeen LC 4 Elliot Cosgrove LW 5 Casey Dunne SO 6 Ben Johnston SH 7 Liam Finn (c) PR 8 Matty Hadden HK 9 Bob Beswick PR 10 Luke Ambler SR 11 Danny Bridge SR 12 Will Hope LF 13 Oliver Roberts Substitutes IC 14 Joseph Keyes IC 15 Robbie Mulhern IC 16 Haydn Peacock IC 17 Gareth Gill Coach: Mark Aston

FB 1 Elliot Kear RW 2 Rhys Williams RC 3 Michael Channing LC 4 Christiaan Roets LW 5 Dalton Grant SO 7 Ollie Olds SH 24 Courtney Davies PR 17 Anthony Walker HK 18 Steve Parry PR 10 Craig Kopczak (c) SR 11 Rhodri Lloyd SR 14 Lewis Reece LF 13 Philip Joseph Substitutions: IC 8 Morgan Evans IC 19 Connor Farrer IC 20 Joe Burke IC 22 Regan Grace Coach: John Kear

Attendances

Date	Game	Stadium	Attendance
16 October	Wales 18 – 12   Scotland	Racecourse Ground, Wrexham	1,253
17 October	France 31 – 14   Ireland	Stadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi	4,681
23 October	Scotland 22 – 24   Ireland	Netherdale, Galashiels	1,197
30 October	Wales 14 – 6   France	Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff	1,028
7 November	France 32 – 18   Scotland	Parc des Sports, Avignon	5,737
7 November	Ireland 4 – 30   Wales	Carlisle Grounds, Bray	1,405

Broadcasting

beIN Sports broadcast both of France's home matches against Ireland and Scotland as well as their away match against Wales. ^[17]

References

1. "2015 European Championship details confirmed". rlef.eu.com. 12 July 2015. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
2. "Wales rugby league stars crowned European champions". WalesOnline. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
3. "Agar names France's 23-Man Squad". rlef.eu.com. 1 October 2015. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
4. "Ireland name strong squad for European Championship". rlef.eu. 2 October 2015. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
5. "Three nations vie for 2015 Rugby League European Championship on Showdown Saturday". RUGBY LEAGUE PLANET. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
6. "Brough to lead Bravehearts once more". rlef.eu.com. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
7. "European Championship: Ban for Scotland's Billy McConnachie". BBC Sport. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
8. "Scotland call-up icing on cake for Whitehaven's Brooks". News & Star. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
9. "Scotland to field youngest ever side against France". LOVE RUGBY LEAGUE. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
10. "Wales name captain for Rugby League European Championship". rlef.eu.com. 16 September 2015. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
11. "Wales name squad for Rugby League European Championship". rlef.eu.com. 29 September 2015. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
12. "Matty Fozard forced to pull out of Wales squad". Sky Sports. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
13. "Coventry Bears prop James Geurtjens called up to Wales squad". Coventry Telegraph. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
14. "Wigan's Ben Flower could captain Wales in European Championship". Sky Sports. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
15. "Craig Kopczak to captain Wales in European Championship". Sky Sports. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
16. "Morgan Knowles replaces Wigan's injured prop Ben Flower". Wales Rugby League. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
17. "beIN Sports to broadcast France's European Championship games". Love Rugby League. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.