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. 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.
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
TeamCoachCaptainRLIF RankRichard Agar Jason Baitieri 5Mark Aston Liam Finn 7Steve McCormack Danny Brough 8John 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.
PlayerGamesPointsPosition2015 ClubMorgan Escaré34FB Catalans DragonsJordan Sigismeau34WG AS Saint EstèveDamien Cardace10WG Lézignan SangliersJean-Philippe Baile30CE Bradford BullsTony Gigot316CE Catalans DragonsBenjamin Jullien30CE Warrington WolvesOlivier Arnaud24CE Sporting Olympique AvignonThéo Fages24SO Salford Red DevilsStanislas Robin38SO AS Saint EstèveWilliam Barthau22SH London BroncosRémy Marginet214SH AS Saint EstèveMourad Kriouache00SH Toulouse OlympiqueJulian Bousquet30PR Catalans DragonsMickaël Simon34PR Wakefield Trinity WildcatsGadwin Springer30PR Castleford TigersClément Boyer10PR Toulouse OlympiqueJohn Boudebza31HK Hull Kingston RoversKevin Larroyer38SR Hull Kingston RoversAntoni Maria20SR Catalans DragonsFlorent Rouanet10SR Lézignan SangliersMickaël Goudemand 00SR Sporting Olympique AvignonJason Baitieri (C)20LF Catalans DragonsUgo Perez34LF 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.
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.
PlayerGamesPointsPosition2015 ClubScott Grix34FB Huddersfield GiantsCallum Mulkeen34WG Gloucestershire All GoldsCasey Dunne34WG Athboy LonghornsBradley Hargreaves38CE Rochdale HornetsJames Mendeika20CE Bradford BullsLiam Finn (C)314SO Castleford TigersBen Johnston30SH HalifaxGregg McNally00SH Leigh CenturionsJoseph Keyes30SH London BroncosMatty Hadden30PR Rochdale HornetsSean Hesketh10PR Batley BulldogsLuke Ambler38PR HalifaxColton Roche00PR York City KnightsGareth Gill10PR Ballynahinch RabbitohsDanny Bridge30SR Rochdale HornetsWill Hope30SR Oldham R.L.F.C.Elliot Cosgrove30SR Batley BulldogsOliver Roberts30SR Huddersfield GiantsHaydn Peacock20SR AS CarcassonneGraham O'Keeffe20SR Oxford RLFCDave Allen00SR WhitehavenBob Beswick30LF 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.
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.
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. 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.
PlayerGamesPointsPosition2015 ClubAlex Walker30FB London BroncosHarvey Burnett30WGUnattachedRichard Harris30WG Warrington WolvesDavid Scott34WG DoncasterCraig Robertson00WG Edinburgh EaglesBen Hellewell20CE London BroncosShane Toal28CE Barrow RaidersFinlay Hutchison10CE Edinburgh EaglesScott Plumridge20CE Edinburgh EaglesDanny Brough (C)210SO Huddersfield GiantsOscar Thomas310SO London BroncosLouis Senter00SH Easterhouse PanthersFinn Murphy00SH Edinburgh EaglesSam Barlow00PR Leigh CenturionsBen Kavanagh30PR Widnes VikingsAdam Walker10PR Hull Kingston RoversJonathan Walker20PR Leigh CenturionsJoe McLean30PR Gloucestershire All GoldsBilly McConnachie00PR Ipswich JetsJosh Barlow00HK Swinton LionsLiam Hood34HK Salford Red DevilsLewis Clarke20HK Edinburgh EaglesSonny Esslemont30SR Hull Kingston RoversCorbyn Kilday20SR Central Queensland CaprasDanny Addy38LF Bradford BullsDale Ferguson38LF 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.
On 29 September, John Kear named the following 24 players as part of his squad in preparation for the tournament.
On 2 October, Matty Fozard pulled out of the squad due to a broken jaw. He was replaced by Connor Farrer.
On 8 October, James Geurtjens of the Coventry Bears was called up into John Kear's squad.
On 12 October, captain Lloyd White withdrew from the team due to a knee injury. Craig Kopczak was therefore announced as the new captain.
On 21 October, Coventry Bears prop Morgan Evans replaced Ben Flower in the team.
PlayerGamesPointsPosition2015 ClubElliot Kear34FB London BroncosLewis Reece34FB Gloucestershire All GoldsJamie Murphy10FB Gloucestershire All GoldsDalton Grant312WG Dewsbury RamsRhys Williams30WG London BroncosMichael Channing30WG Castleford TigersRegan Grace20WG St. HelensChristiaan Roets30CE North Wales CrusadersRob Massam00CE North Wales CrusadersCourtney Davies322SO Gloucestershire All GoldsSteve Parry38SO Gloucestershire All GoldsOllie Olds30SH Souths Logan MagpiesJoe Burke34PR North Wales CrusadersDan Fleming00PR Bradford BullsCraig Kopczak (C)30PR Huddersfield GiantsAnthony Walker34PR Wakefield Trinity WildcatsMorgan Evans20PR Coventry BearsJames Geurtjens00PR Coventry BearsPhilip Joseph30HK Widnes VikingsConnor Farrer20HK South Wales ScorpionsMatt Barron10SR Newcastle ThunderRicky Hough00SR Newcastle ThunderRhodri Lloyd34SR Wigan WarriorsMorgan Knowles10LF 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 3 3 0 0 62 22 +40 6 3 2 0 1 69 46 +23 4 3 1 0 2 42 83 –41 2 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 with England on 24 October before England's series against New Zealand.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
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
FB 1 Elliot KearRW 2 Rhys WilliamsRC 3 Michael ChanningLC 4 Christiaan RoetsLW 5 Dalton GrantSO 7 Ollie OldsSH 24 Courtney DaviesPR 17 Anthony WalkerHK 18 Steve ParryPR 10 Craig Kopczak (c)SR 11 Rhodri LloydSR 14 Lewis ReeceLF 13 Philip JosephSubstitutions:IC 12 Morgan KnowlesIC 20 Joe BurkeIC 21 Matty BarronIC 25 Jamie MurphyCoach: John Kear FB 1 Oscar ThomasRW 2 David ScottRC 3 Ben HellewellLC 4 Harvey BurnettLW 5 Alex WalkerSO 6 Danny Brough (c)SH 7 Danny AddyPR 8 Adam WalkerHK 9 Liam HoodPR 10 Jonathan WalkerSR 11 Sonny EsslemontSR 12 Dale FergusonLF 13 Ben KavanaghSubstitutions:IC 14 Joe McCleanIC 15 Corbyn KildayIC 16 Richard HarrisIC 17 Scott PlumridgeCoach: Steve McCormack
The victory for Wales ended their spree of 12 consecutive defeats with their last victory occurring four years ago.
France vs Ireland
FB 1 Morgan EscaréRW 2 Jordan SigismeauRC 3 Tony GigotLC 4 Benjamin JullienLW 5 Damien CardaceSO 6 Théo Fages (c)SH 7 Rémy MarginetPR 8 Julian BousquetHK 9 John BoudebzaPR 10 Mickaël SimonSR 11 Kevin LarroyerSR 12 Ugo PerezLF 13 Gadwin Springer SubstitutesIC 14 Stanislas RobinIC 15 Jean-Philippe BaileIC 16 Antoni MariaIC 17 Clément BoyerCoach: Richard Agar FB 1 Scott GrixRW 2 Bradley HargreavesRC 3 James MendeikaLC 4 Elliot CosgroveLW 5 Casey DunneSO 6 Ben JohnstonSH 7 Liam Finn (c)PR 8 Danny BridgeHK 9 Bob BeswickPR 10 Luke AmblerSR 11 Haydn PeacockSR 12 Will HopeLF 13 Oliver RobertsSubstitutesIC 14 Joseph KeyesIC 15 Callum MulkeenIC 16 Graham O'KeeffeIC 17 Matty HaddenCoach: Mark Aston
Scotland vs Ireland
FB 1 David ScottRW 2 Shane ToalRC 3 Ben HellewellLC 4 Richard HarrisLW 5 Alex WalkerSO 6 Danny Brough (c)SH 7 Oscar Thomas PR 8 Ben KavanaghHK 9 Liam HoodPR 10 Jonathan WalkerSR 11 Sonny EsslemontSR 12 Dale FergusonLF 13 Danny AddySubstitutions:IC 14 Joe McCleanIC 15 Corbyn KildayIC 16 Lewis ClarkeIC 17Harvey BurnettCoach: Steve McCormack FB 1 Scott GrixRW 2 Bradley HargreavesRC 3 James MendeikaLC 4 Elliot CosgroveLW 5 Casey DunneSO 6 Ben JohnstonSH 7 Liam Finn (c)PR 8 Matty HaddenHK 9 Bob BeswickPR 10 Luke AmblerSR 11 Danny Bridge SR 12 Will HopeLF 13 Oliver RobertsSubstitutesIC 14 Callum MulkeenIC 15 Graham O'KeeffeIC 16 Joseph KeyesIC 17 Sean HeskethCoach: Mark Aston
Wales vs France
FB 1 Elliot KearRW 2 Rhys WilliamsRC 3 Michael ChanningLC 4 Christiaan RoetsLW 5 Dalton GrantSO 7 Ollie OldsSH 24 Courtney DaviesPR 17 Anthony WalkerHK 18 Steve ParryPR 10 Craig Kopczak (c)SR 11 Rhodri LloydSR 14 Lewis ReeceLF 13 Philip JosephSubstitutions:IC 8 Morgan EvansIC 19 Connor FarrerIC 20 Joe BurkeIC 22 Regan GraceCoach: John Kear FB 1 Morgan EscaréRW 2 Jordan SigismeauRC 3 Tony GigotLC 4 Jean-Philippe BaileLW 5 Olivier ArnaudSO 6 Théo Fages SH 7 William BarthauPR 8 Julian BousquetHK 9 John BoudebzaPR 10 Mickaël SimonSR 11 Kevin LarroyerSR 12 Ugo PerezLF 13 Jason Baitieri (c)SubstitutesIC 14 Stanislas RobinIC 15 Antoni MariaIC 16 Gadwin SpringerIC 17 Benjamin Jullien Coach: Richard Agar
With the defeat, France still haven’t won a test in South Wales since 1948.
France vs Scotland
FB 1 Morgan EscaréRW 2 Jordan SigismeauRC 3 Tony GigotLC 4 Benjamin Jullien LW 5 Olivier ArnaudSO 6 Stanislas RobinSH 7 Rémy MarginetPR 8 Julian BousquetHK 9 John BoudebzaPR 10 Mickaël SimonSR 11 Kevin LarroyerSR 12 Ugo PerezLF 13 Jason Baitieri (c)SubstitutesIC 14 William Barthau IC 15 Jean-Philippe Baile IC 16 Gadwin SpringerIC 17 Florent RouanetCoach: Richard Agar FB 1 David ScottRW 2 Shane ToalRC 3Harvey BurnettLC 4 Richard HarrisLW 5 Alex WalkerSO 6 Danny AddySH 7 Oscar Thomas PR 8 Joe McCleanHK 9 Liam HoodPR 10 Ben Kavanagh SR 11 Sonny EsslemontSR 12 Dale Ferguson (c)LF 13 Sam BrooksSubstitutions:IC 14 Scott PlumridgeIC 15 Gavin GrantIC 16 Lewis ClarkeIC 17 Finlay HutchisonCoach: Steve McCormack
Ireland vs Wales
FB 1 Scott GrixRW 2 Bradley HargreavesRC 3 Callum MulkeenLC 4 Elliot CosgroveLW 5 Casey DunneSO 6 Ben JohnstonSH 7 Liam Finn (c)PR 8 Matty HaddenHK 9 Bob BeswickPR 10 Luke AmblerSR 11 Danny Bridge SR 12 Will HopeLF 13 Oliver RobertsSubstitutesIC 14 Joseph KeyesIC 15 Robbie MulhernIC 16 Haydn PeacockIC 17 Gareth GillCoach: Mark Aston FB 1 Elliot KearRW 2 Rhys WilliamsRC 3 Michael ChanningLC 4 Christiaan RoetsLW 5 Dalton GrantSO 7 Ollie OldsSH 24 Courtney DaviesPR 17 Anthony WalkerHK 18 Steve ParryPR 10 Craig Kopczak (c)SR 11 Rhodri LloydSR 14 Lewis ReeceLF 13 Philip JosephSubstitutions:IC 8 Morgan EvansIC 19 Connor FarrerIC 20 Joe BurkeIC 22 Regan GraceCoach: John Kear
Attendances
Date Game Stadium Attendance 16 October 18 – 12 Racecourse Ground, Wrexham 1,253 17 October 31 – 14 Stadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi 4,681 23 October 22 – 24 Netherdale, Galashiels 1,197 30 October 14 – 6 Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff 1,028 7 November 32 – 18 Parc des Sports, Avignon 5,737 7 November 4 – 30 Carlisle Grounds, Bray 1,405
Broadcasting