Just over a week before their inaugural match against the Mackay Cutters, the Pacifique Treize team has been strengthened by the arrival of players from mainland France.
The team will see the addition of eight players from renowned French Rugby League clubs. These players will join their teammates from New Caledonia, Wallis & Futuna, Vanuatu, and Australia for a training camp in Townsville this weekend, bringing valuable experience to the new team.
The Pacifique Treize lineup will now include Yanis Ballet, Aymeric Papailhau, and Leo Ricard from the Albi Tigers; Adrian De La Rose from the Limoux Grizzlies; Elio Cazanave, Tom Guilhaumou and Matis Dumont from Lezignan-Corbières; and Elie Lasserre from Toulouse Olympique.
Laurent Garnier, the head coach of Pacifique Treize, expressed his excitement about working with this diverse group of players and acknowledged their contribution to promoting Rugby League in French-speaking Pacific regions.
“I am very excited about working with this group of players and appreciative of the role they are playing in helping both establish the Pacifique Treize club and grow the sport in the French-speaking Pacific region”
“With the code still a developing sport in a number of the territories that Pacifique Treize represents, having the opportunity to add experienced players to the squad will help fast track the player’s Rugby League education”
The Pacifique Treize U17 team is set to begin their tour next Saturday with a game against the Mackay Cutters. They will also compete against the Townsville Blackhawks and Northern Pride during their stay in North Queensland.
Go Pacific 13 !!!!🇨🇵🏉