Rabbitohs rookie Latrell Siegwalt is set to debut for France at Rugby League World Cup 2026 after a meeting with coach Laurent Frayssinous in Sydney earlier this year led to him being named in a 23-man squad for the tournament.

France are the first nation to announce their men’s squad ahead of RLWC26, which kicks off on October 15 and Siegwalt will be joined by former Rabbitohs and Bulldogs backrower Louis Grossemy, as well as Tiaki Chan, the brother of Cowboys-bound Joe Chan.

The 23-man squad includes seven players from Catalans and eight from the Toulouse side which made the Super League finals, including Grossemy and Chan, as well as Hull KR stars Arthur Mourgue and Jordan Dezaria, and Huddersfield’s Mathieu Cozza.

The Tricolors will be captained by Catalans forward Benjamin Garcia, who moved to Australia in his late teens and had stints at the Broncos and Panthers before returning to France to play. Garcia will retire after the World Cup.

Fellow veterans Theo Fages and Fouad Yaha have been selected from France’s Super XIII competition, along with former Fiji international Joe Drodolagi, who - like Chan – qualifies on residency grounds.

Siegwalt is eligible for France through his paternal grandfather, who lives in Walgett.

Frayssinous and other team officials met with Siegwalt before his NRL debut in May, while in Australia to tour accommodation and training facilities in Sydney and Perth, where France will play.

“He was just telling me about the standards and how they were building something good and it made it tempting,” Siegwalt told NRL.com.

“He asked that if I got that opportunity would I be keen to play and I said I would.”

Siegwalt - nicknamed the "Real Latrell" by Wayne Bennett after replacing Latrell Mitchell in his Round 10 debut, has since played eight NRL matches for Souths.

Photo: "The Real Latrell" Siegwalt and Latrell Mitchell. Siegwalt will play for France at RLWC26

He finished the season with two tries and six try assists, while landing 28 goals from 39 attempts for 64 points. Siegwalt also ran 117m per game with the ball and produced eight-line break assists.

The 25 year-old won the club's John Sattler Rookie of the Year award, and he has previously won the QRL’s Rookie of the Year in 2024 and Player of the Tournament at the 2023 Koori Knockout, playing for Walgett.

Although he played mostly in the centres at NRL level, Siegwalt has the versatility of playing in the halves, where he’s been successful this year in the Rabbitohs NSW Cup side, or at fullback.

“I’m very keen if I get the opportunity to represent my father’s side of the family,” Siegwalt said.

France’s first match is on Friday October 16 against Samoa at CommBank Stadium. They then play England in Perth on October 24 and Lebanon in Sydney on November 1.

France squad

Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet — Dragons Catalans
Léo Darrélatour — Dragons Catalans
Julian Bousquet — Dragons Catalans
Romain Navarrete — Dragons Catalans
Benjamin Garcia — Dragons Catalans
Alrix Da Costa — Dragons Catalans
Benjamin Laguerre — Toulouse Olympique
César Rougé — Toulouse Olympique
Thomas Lacans — Toulouse Olympique
Lambert Belmas — Toulouse Olympique
Tiaki Chan — Toulouse Olympique
Louis Grossemy — Toulouse Olympique
Mathieu Jussaume — Toulouse Olympique
Roméo Tropis — Toulouse Olympique
Amir Bourouh — Hull FC
Arthur Romano — Hull FC
Arthur Mourgue — Hull KR
Jordan Dezaria — Hull KR
Mathieu Cozza — Huddersfield
Joe Drodrolagi — Carcassonne XIII
Théo Fages — Pia Rugby League
Fouad Yaha — Albi
Latrell Siegwalt — South Sydney Rabbitohs

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