Match Report

2026 Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers Semi-Final

22 October 2024 • KO 17:00

0 v 48

Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne

Attendance: 1257

Referee : Geoffrey Poumes

Match Stats
0   Tries   8
0   Conversions   8
0   Penalties   0
0   Drop Goals   0

Match Report

Serbia


Words: Ian Golden. Pic: Dave Gibson

Wales beat Serbia 48-0 to safely move into the play-off final at St Esteve this Saturday, where they'll face France.

Whoever wins that game will qualify for next year's World Series against Cook Islands, Jamaica and South Africa with the top two qualifying for RLWC2026.

Wales put on a top class performance, taking the lead in the tenth minute, and this after Serbia had already given away five penalties.

Billy Walkley was shoulder-charged, and from the resulting play, Matty Fozard slipped through a gap for the opening try, converting it himself.

Wales soon increased their lead with a stunning try. Rhys Williams started the move from his own 40-metre line. Mike Butt nearly went through himself, but was stopped by an ankle tap, but he kept the ball moving and Elliot Kear picked up the pass to sprint the final 20 metres. Fozard converted.

The third try was scored on 27 minutes. Ben Evans pushed his way to the line for the first attempt, then Ant Walker barged over for the score under the sticks, making it easy for Fozard to add the extras.

Straight from kick-off, Wales scored their fourth. This time it was Walker who started the move, Josh Ralph was also involved and Ashton Robinson, the wrecking ball, charged through for his first Wales try. Fozard’s goal put the score onto 24-0.

And after Serbia gave away another penalty, their seventh of the half, Ralph fed Connor Davies to score Wales’ fifth try. Fozard made it five from five with the boot and Wales were 30-0 up at the break.

Serbia came out looking for an early try, but Wales were excelling in defence as well as attack. Djordje Krnjeta was stopped by a Kear cruncher when he was just metres from the line.

Wales then continued to attack. Joe Coope-Franklin mishandled as he was diving for the line, but from their next attack, Mike Butt got on the end of a good passing move for Wales sixth try. Fozard converted again.

Coope-Franklin had another opportunity to score, but he unselfishly fed Huw Worthington who was in a much better position for him to score Wales’ seventh of the match. With Fozard off the field, Kear kicked the goal.

Serbia, who had been down and out for most of the game, did look for a try back, and David Nofoaluma managed to catch a high bomb from the final tackle of a set to try and force his way through, but the Welsh defence stood firm.

Finally, Coope-Franklin got his try, and it happened in the final move of the game as he outpaced his markers to latch onto a grubber. Fozard’s goal completed a perfect Welsh performance.

Team Lists and Scoring Information

Serbia Tries Goals DGs Pts Cards
1 Nick O'Meley
2 Rajko Trifunovic
3 Nick Cotric
4 David Nofoaluma
5 Andrej Mora
6 Jesse Soric
7 Vojislav Dedić (c)
8 Jake O'Meley
9 Sasha Popovic
10 Miloš Ćalić
11 Stefan Arsic
12 Nikola Djurić
13 Enis Bibic
Substitute
14 Džavid Jašari
15 Ilija Cotric
16 Djordje Krnjeta
17 Marko Janković
18 Aleksandar Pavlovic
Wales Tries Goals DGs Pts Cards
1 Billy Walkley
2 Joe Coope-Franklin 1 4
3 Mike Butt 1 4
4 Will Evans
5 Rhys Williams
6 Elliot Kear (c) 1 1 6
7 Josh Ralph
8 Huw Worthington 1 4
9 Matty Fozard 1 7 18
10 Ben Evans
11 Connor Davies 1 4
12 Max Clarke
13 Sam Bowring
Substitute
14 Curtis Davies
16 Matt Ross
17 Anthony Walker 1 4
18 Ashton Robinson 1 4
22 Fin Yates
Time Score Player Team Action
10 4 - 0 Matty Fozard Wales Try
11 6 - 0 Matty Fozard Wales Conversion
14 10 - 0 Elliot Kear Wales Try
15 12 - 0 Matty Fozard Wales Conversion
26 16 - 0 Anthony Walker Wales Try
27 18 - 0 Matty Fozard Wales Conversion
29 22 - 0 Ashton Robinson Wales Try
30 24 - 0 Matty Fozard Wales Conversion
34 28 - 0 Connor Davies Wales Try
36 30 - 0 Matty Fozard Wales Conversion
54 34 - 0 Mike Butt Wales Try
55 36 - 0 Matty Fozard Wales Conversion
66 40 - 0 Huw Worthington Wales Try
68 42 - 0 Elliot Kear Wales Conversion
79 46 - 0 Joe Coope-Franklin Wales Try
80+ 48 - 0 Matty Fozard Wales Conversion