French U19s Tour Australia: A Glimpse Into France’s Rugby League Future

Culture Shock, Rugby League Style

For Rémi Casty, bringing France’s brightest U19s across the world was never just about playing footy. It was about immersion. From the buzz of an NRL game at Allianz to the raw energy of a State of Origin decider at Accor, these teenagers were handed front-row seats to rugby league’s biggest stages. In France, football is king. In Australia, league is a religion. The contrast hit them hard, and that was exactly the point.

“This was a dream for the players,” Casty said. “The atmosphere, the intensity, everything about it shows them the standard they must reach.”

Testing Themselves Against the Best

The itinerary was no holiday. Matches against the Wests Tigers Cubs, East Campbelltown Eagles, and Newcastle Knights set the tone, each one a brutal reality check on what NRL-level competition demands. Skill, power, mentality, tactical nous. Every box was tested.

Casty wanted his squad to understand just how steep the climb is, but also to see the payoff if they dare to chase it. Some, he admits, may even relocate to Australia to develop in a stronger system. The blueprint is already there.

Griffier and the Roosters Effect

Enzo Griffier is living proof of what happens when French talent is dropped into an Australian furnace. The centre-turned-backrower joined the Roosters in 2023, training inside their Jersey Flegg system. Under Trent Robinson’s watch, Griffier has sharpened his game, and Casty is clear on what that means when he comes back to Europe.

“When he returns, whether to Catalans or the national side, he will be one of our leaders,” Casty said.

Robinson himself, balancing his role as Roosters head coach and FFRXIII Director of Rugby, welcomed the squad into the club’s Centre of Excellence. The message was simple: French rugby league belongs in the global conversation, but only if the players put in the work.

Pathways to the World Cup

The tour arrives at a critical time. France faces Jamaica in Albi on October 25, a World Cup qualifier that could define the future of the sport in the country. Should they progress to RLWC 2026, Casty has not ruled out fast-tracking U19 standouts into the senior squad.

Names are already circling. Prop Giovanni Descalzi, currently 18th man for Catalans. Centre Lenny Marc, edging toward a Super League debut. Halfback Mathis Frayssinous, already blooded in international colours against Morocco. The conveyor belt is rolling, and Australia has only accelerated the process.

More Than a Tour, It’s a Statement

This wasn’t just a handful of exhibition games. It was France planting a flag, showing that their next generation isn’t content to stay in the shadows of England and Australia. Rugby league in France has always fought for space against union and football, but heritage runs deep. From the golden days of Carcassonne to Catalans’ current Super League rise, the flame has never gone out.

For Casty, the challenge is clear. Nurture the kids who went to Australia, give them the belief and the platform, and turn them into a squad that can stand tall on the world stage.

And if they qualify for RLWC 2026, don’t be surprised when some of these teenagers walk out wearing the tricolour.