2014 Rugby League European Championship

The 2014 Rugby League European Championship was an international rugby league football tournament. The tournament took place in England, Wales, France, Ireland and Scotland between 17 October and 2 November. It was announced beforehand that the winner of the tournament would qualify for the 2016 Four Nations, and also that if Ireland or Wales won tournament, they will automatically qualify for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup (due to the World Cup qualifying tournament taking place at the same time as the 2016 Four Nations). France and Scotland had already qualified for that tournament.

The England Knights were defending Champions but they did not compete in this year's tournament. Four teams competed in the 2014 event; Scotland, Ireland, France and Wales. Scotland were crowned champions on points differential, and subsequently won their first Rugby League European Championship title. Scotland therefore qualified for the 2016 Four Nations, which will be their first appearance in a Four Nations tournament.

Teams

TeamCoachCaptainRLIF RankRichard AgarJason Baitieri 4Mark AstonBob Beswick 10Steve McCormackDanny Brough 11John KearPeter Lupton 6

Squads

France Head Coach: Richard Agar

On 3 October, Richard Agar named the following 23 players as part of his squad in preparation for the tournament. On 7 October, Aaron Wood and Tony Maurel of Toulouse Olympique were called into Richard Agar's squad to replace Morgan Escaré (medical reasons) and Vincent Duport (resting after Super League).

PlayerGamesPointsPosition2014 ClubTony Maurel14FB Toulouse OlympiqueMathias Pala38WG AS Saint EstèveFrédéric Vaccari30WG Palau BroncosClément Soubeyras14WG AS CarcassonneDamien Cardace30CE Catalans DragonsJean-Philippe Baile34CE AS Saint EstèveAurélien Decarnin24CE Villeneuve LeopardsBenjamin Jullien00CE SO AvignonThéo Fages34SO Salford Red DevilsAnthony Carrere00SO Lézignan SangliersWilliam Barthau10SH Catalans DragonsRémy Marginet348SH Palau BroncosJulian Bousquet30PR Catalans DragonsMickaël Simon30PR AS Saint EstèveJamal Fakir30PR Lézignan SangliersAaron Wood30PR Toulouse OlympiqueÉloi Pélissier34HK Catalans DragonsJohn Boudebza10HK Lézignan SangliersKevin Larroyer34SR Hull Kingston RoversBenjamin Garcia30SR Catalans DragonsAntoni Maria20SR Catalans DragonsJason Baitieri (C)34LF Catalans DragonsThibaut Margalet00LF AS Saint Estève

Ireland Head Coach: Mark Aston

On 10 October, Mark Aston named the following 29 players as part of a train-on squad in preparation for the tournament. On 16 October, Mark Aston added Halifax halfback Ben Johnston to his squad for the tournament. Liam Finn was a late addition for the Irish team. He arrived just in time to play for Ireland in their final tournament match against Wales.

PlayerGamesPointsPosition2014 ClubShannon McDonnell38FB St. HelensMichael Platt10FB Leigh CenturionsCallum Mulkeen20WG Oxford Rugby LeagueJames Toole24WG Tweed Heads SeagullsCasey Dunne36WG Athboy LonghornsElliot Cosgrove10WG Keighley CougarsStuart Littler20CE Leigh CenturionsJoshua Toole30CE North Sydney BearsBradley Hargreaves112CE Wigan St PatricksGraham O'Keeffe10CE Treaty City TitansApirana Pewhairangi00SO Parramatta EelsPat Smith00SO York City KnightsBen Johnston20SH HalifaxGregg McNally00SH Leigh CenturionsBrendan Guilfoyle00PR Treaty City TitansMatty Hadden30PR Antrim EelsSean Hesketh30PR Batley BulldogsLuke Ambler34PR HalifaxColton Roche00PR York City KnightsRobbie Mulhern30PR Leeds RhinosMichael Russell 00HK Barnhall ButchersSean Casey00HK Rochdale HornetsWayne Kelly20HK Belfast Met ScholarsDanny Bridge00SR Warrington WolvesWill Hope34SR Sheffield EaglesJobe Murphy34SR Dewsbury RamsHaydn Peacock312SR AS CarcassonneLemeki Vaipulu00SR Treaty City TitansBob Beswick (C)30LF Leigh CenturionsCallum Casey30LF Halifax

Scotland Head Coach: Steve McCormack

On 10 October, Steve McCormack named the following 31 players as part of a train-on squad in preparation for the tournament.

PlayerGamesPointsPosition2014 ClubBrett Carter00FB Workington TownAlex Hurst34FB Tweed Heads SeagullsNathan Massey30FB Canterbury BulldogsAlex Walker00FB London BroncosGregor Ramsey00FB Easterhouse PanthersHarvey Burnett10WG London BroncosRichard Harris00WG Warrington WolvesLee Paterson00WG York City KnightsDavid Scott38WG DoncasterJack Stewart00WG Hull Kingston RoversBen Hellewell34CE London BroncosShane Toal00CE Barrow RaidersJoe Wardle30CE Huddersfield GiantsDanny Brough (C)329SO Huddersfield GiantsOscar Thomas38SO London BroncosLouis Senter30SO HalifaxCallum Phillips38SH Workington TownFinn Murphy00SH Edinburgh EaglesSam Barlow00PR Leigh CenturionsBen Kavanagh34PR Widnes VikingsIain Morrison00PR York City KnightsAdam Walker34PR Hull Kingston RoversJonathan Walker28PR Leigh CenturionsJosh Barlow30HK Swinton LionsRyan Maneely00HK Warrington WolvesLewis Clarke00HK Edinburgh EaglesBrett Phillips24SR Workington TownSonny Esslemont30SR Hull Kingston RoversCorbyn Kilday34SR Wakefield Trinity WildcatsJoe McClean10SR Gloucestershire All GoldsDanny Addy34LF Bradford Bulls

Wales Head Coach: John Kear

On 7 October, John Kear named the following 25 players as part of his squad in preparation for the tournament. On 9 October, John Kear brought in four new players to the team to add to his train-on squad after withdrawals from Garreth Carvell and Rob Massam. Carvell withdrew due to injury while Massam cited work commitments. The four new players Kear brought in are: Tom Hughes, Morgan Evans, Lewis Reece and Owain Griffiths.

PlayerGamesPointsPosition2014 ClubElliot Kear00FB Bradford BullsLewis Reece310FB Toowoomba ClydesdalesJordan Sheridan00FB South Wales ScorpionsTom Hughes34FB Coventry BearsDalton Grant24WG Barrow RaidersRhys Williams312WG Central Queensland CaprasAshley Bateman20WG South Wales ScorpionsChristiaan Roets38CE North Wales CrusadersYannic Parker10CE Oxford Rugby LeagueKyle Scrivens20CE South Wales ScorpionsPaul Emanuelli20SO South Wales ScorpionsOllie Olds30SH Ipswich JetsJacob Emmitt00PR Leigh CenturionsJoe Burke20PR Barrow RaidersDan Fleming34PR Castleford TigersIzaak Duffy20PR Gloucestershire All GoldsPhil Carleton10PR South Wales ScorpionsMorgan Evans30PR South Wales ScorpionsConnor Farrer38HK South Wales ScorpionsMatty Fozard24HK St. HelensOwain Griffiths10HK North Wales CrusadersByron Smith10SR Batley BulldogsMatt Barron30SR Gateshead ThunderRicky Hough30SR Gateshead ThunderPeter Lupton (C)30LF Workington Town

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

Workington Dublin Albi Galashiels Wrexham Derwent Park Tallaght Stadium Stadium Municipal d'Albi Netherdale Racecourse Ground Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 6,000 Capacity: 13,058 Capacity: 4,000 Capacity: 10,771

Standings Team Played Won Drew Lost For Ag. Diff Points 3 2 0 1 89 60 +29 4 3 2 0 1 92 66 +26 4 3 2 0 1 72 51 +21 4 3 0 0 3 54 130 –76 0

Fixtures

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

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

Scotland vs Wales

FB 1 Oscar ThomasRW 2 David ScottRC 3 Ben HellewellLC 4 Joe WardleLW 5 Alex HurstSO 6 Danny Brough (c)SH 7 Nathan MasseyPR 8 Adam WalkerHK 9 Danny AddyPR 10 Ben KavanaghSR 11 Brett PhillipsSR 12 Corbyn KildayLF 13 Sonny EsslemontSubstitutions:IC 14 Callum PhillipsIC 15 Josh BarlowIC 16 Jonathan WalkerIC 17 Louis SenterCoach: Steve McCormack FB 1 Tom HughesRW 3 Yannic ParkerRC 8 Kyle ScrivensLC 11 Christiaan RoetsLW 19 Rhys WilliamsSO 6 Ollie OldsSH 10 Peter Lupton (c)PR 13 Daniel FlemingHK 16 Ricky HoughPR 12 Matt BarronSR 9 Phil CarletonSR 7 Ashley BatemanLF 22 Joe BurkeSubstitutions:IC 14 Connor FarrerIC 15 Izaak DuffyIC 17 Lewis ReeceIC 18 Morgan EvansCoach: John Kear

Ireland vs France

FB 1 Shannon McDonnellRW 2 Callum MulkeenRC 3 Haydn PeacockLC 4 Michael PlattLW 5 Casey DunneSO 6 Callum CaseySH 7 Ben JohnstonPR 8 Robbie MulhernHK 9 Bob Beswick (c)PR 10 Luke AmblerSR 11 Elliot CosgroveSR 12 Josh TooleLF 13 Will HopeSubstitutesIC 14 Jobe MurphyIC 15 Sean HeskethIC 16 Wayne KellyIC 17 Matty HaddenCoach: Mark Aston FB 1 Tony MaurelRW 2 Mathias PalaRC 3 Jean-Philippe BaileLC 4 Damien CardaceLW 5 Frédéric VaccariSO 6 Théo FagesSH 7 William BarthauPR 8 Jamal FakirHK 9 Éloi PélissierPR 10 Michael SimonSR 11 Kevin LarroyerSR 12 Benjamin GarciaLF 13 Jason Baitieri (c)SubstitutesIC 14 Rémy MarginetIC 15 Aaron WoodIC 16 Julian BousquetIC 17 Antoni MariaCoach: Richard Agar

Ireland vs Scotland

FB 1 Shannon McDonnellRW 2 Callum MulkeenRC 3 Haydn PeacockLC 4 Stuart LittlerLW 5 Casey DunneSO 6 Callum CaseySH 7 James ToolePR 8 Robbie MulhernHK 9 Bob Beswick (c)PR 10 Luke AmblerSR 11 Jobe MurphySR 12 Josh TooleLF 13 Will HopeSubstitutesIC 14 Wayne KellyIC 15 Sean HeskethIC 16 Graham O'KeeffeIC 17 Matty HaddenCoach: Mark Aston FB 1 Oscar ThomasRW 2 David ScottRC 3 Ben HellewellLC 4 Joe WardleLW 5 Alex HurstSO 6 Danny Brough (c)SH 7 Nathan MasseyPR 8 Adam WalkerHK 9 Danny AddyPR 10 Ben KavanaghSR 11 Brett PhillipsSR 12 Corbyn KildayLF 13 Sonny EsslemontSubstitutions:IC 14 Callum PhillipsIC 15 Josh BarlowIC 16 Joe McCleanIC 17 Louis SenterCoach: Steve McCormack

France vs Wales

FB 1 Mathias PalaRW 2 Clément SoubeyrasRC 3 Aurélien DecarninLC 4 Damien CardaceLW 5 Frédéric VaccariSO 6 Théo FagesSH 7 Rémy MarginetPR 8 Jamal FakirHK 9 John BoudebzaPR 10 Michael SimonSR 11 Kevin LarroyerSR 12 Benjamin GarciaLF 13 Jason Baitieri (c)SubstitutesIC 14 Éloi PélissierIC 15 Jean-Philippe BaileIC 16 Julian BousquetIC 17 Aaron WoodCoach: Richard Agar FB 1 Tom HughesRW 3 Dalton GrantRC 8 Kyle ScrivensLC 11 Christiaan RoetsLW 19 Rhys WilliamsSO 6 Ollie OldsSH 10 Peter Lupton (c)PR 13 Daniel FlemingHK 5 Connor Farrer PR 12 Matt BarronSR 21 Lewis ReeceSR 16 Ricky HoughLF 7 Matty FozardSubstitutesIC 14 Owain GriffithsIC 15 Izaak DuffyIC 17 Paul EmanuelliIC 24 Morgan EvansCoach: John Kear

Scotland vs France

FB 1 Oscar ThomasRW 2 David ScottRC 3 Ben HellewellLC 4 Joe WardleLW 5 Alex HurstSO 6 Danny Brough (c)SH 7 Nathan MasseyPR 8 Adam WalkerHK 9 Danny AddyPR 10 Jonathan WalkerSR 11 Sonny EsslemontSR 12 Corbyn KildayLK 13 Ben KavanaghSubstitutions:IC 14 Callum PhillipsIC 15 Josh BarlowIC 16 Harvey BurnettIC 17 Louis SenterCoach: Steve McCormack FB 1 Mathias PalaRW 2 Tony GigotRC 3 Aurélien DecarninLC 4 Damien CardaceLW 5 Frédéric VaccariSO 6 Théo FagesSH 7 Rémy MarginetPR 8 Jamal FakirHK 9 Antoni MariaPR 10 Michael SimonSR 11 Kevin LarroyerSR 12 Benjamin GarciaLF 13 Jason Baitieri (c)SubstitutesIC 14 Éloi PélissierIC 15 Jean-Philippe BaileIC 16 Julian BousquetIC 17 Aaron WoodCoach: Richard Agar

Wales vs Ireland

FB 1 Tom HughesRW 3 Dalton GrantRC 21 Lewis ReeceLC 11 Christiaan RoetsLW 19 Rhys WilliamsSO 6 Ollie OldsSH 10 Peter Lupton (c)PR 34 Byron SmithHK 18 Matty FozardPR 12 Matt BarronSR 31 Ricky HoughSR 7 Ashley BatemanLF 13 Daniel FlemingSubstitutesIC 22 Joe BurkeIC 5 Connor FarrerIC 24 Morgan EvansIC 17 Paul EmanuelliCoach: John Kear FB 1 Shannon McDonnellRW 2 Brad HargreavesRC 3 Haydn PeacockLC 4 Stuart LittlerLW 5 Casey DunneSO 6 Ben JohnstonSH 7 Liam FinnPR 8 Robbie MulhernHK 9 Bob Beswick (c)PR 10 Luke AmblerSR 11 Will HopeSR 12 Josh TooleLF 13 Callum CaseySubstitutions:IC 14 Jobe MurphyIC 15 Sean HeskethIC 16 James TooleIC 17 Matty HaddenCoach: Mark Aston

References