photos by Ian Lovell

Wales win compete in a tournament with Scotland, Ireland and France for a place in the 2011 Rugby League Four Nations in October this year.

The chance to play against England, Australia and New Zealand in the UK next year is the prize on offer for the winners of the 2010 rugbyleague.com European Cup which kicks off on October 9, 2010 with matches in France and Scotland.

The schedule, which was announced by the Rugby League European Federation today, sees the opening weekend matches being France hosting Ireland while the Scottish Bravehearts play Wales in a repeat of the 2009 rugbyleague.com European Cup final, which Wales won 28-16.

France, as official hosts for the 2010 rugbyleague.com European Cup, are also at home for their next two matches against Scotland (October 16) and Wales (October 23). All France’s matches will be broadcast live on

French TV by Orange.

The rest of the itinerary sees Wales entertain Ireland on October 16 and Ireland take in Scotland a week later. The tournament will be run on a mini-league basis with the top team at the end of Week Three joining England, Australia and New Zealand in next year’s Four Nations.

“The stakes for matches involving these four nations has rarely been higher and I’m sure the chance to take on Australia, England and New Zealand will bring out the best in all the players involved in the rugbyleague.com European Cup,” said theRFL’s Director of Development Gary Tasker.

“It is a sign of the growing stature of international Rugby League that France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will go into the tournament in confident mood. It promises to be a fantastic competition.”

With home advantage for all three matches and a team drawn largely from players at Engage Super League club Catalans Dragons, many of whom will have benefited from recent international experience against England in the Gillette Fusion International in June, France will start the 2010 rugbyleague.com European Cup as favourites.....

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