2010 Rugby League European Cup

The 2010 Rugby League European Cup, known as the Alitalia European Cup for sponsorship purposes,^[1] is a rugby league football tournament. Three of the competing teams participated in the 2009 Rugby League European Cup, with France also being included in the tournament after competing in the 2009 Four Nations. The winner of the competition, Wales, competed in the 2011 Four Nations tournament.^[2]

2010 (2010) Rugby League European Cup  ()
Number of teams	4
Winner	Wales
Matches played	6
Attendance	35,687 (5,948 per match)
Top scorer	Gregg McNally (30)
Top try scorer	Rhys Williams (5)
Tournaments  < 2009 2012 >

Squads

France

preliminary squad:^[3]

• Coach: Bobbie Goulding

Club Team	Players
AS Carcassonne	Romaric Bemba, Roman Gagliazzo, Teddy Sadaoui
Catalans Dragons	Jean-Philippe Baile, Thomas Bosc, Rémi Casty, Olivier Elima (c), Jamal Fakir, David Ferriol, Cyril Gossard, Clint Greenshields, Grégory Mounis, Sébastien Raguin
Lézignan Sangliers	Matthew Alberola, Thibault Ancely, Andrew Bentley, Julian Bousquet, Nicolas Munoz, Florian Quintilla, Micheal Tribillac
Melbourne Storm	Dane Chisholm
Pia Donkeys	Maxime Grésèque, Christophe Moly
Sydney Roosters	Jason Baitieri
Toulouse Olympique	Vincent Duport, Mathieu Griffi, Kevin Larroyer, Antoni Maria, Yoan Tisseyre
Union Treiziste Catalans	William Barthau, Kane Bentley, Tony Gigot, Sebastien Martins, Quentin Nauroy, Éloi Pélissier, Michael Simon, Cyril Stacul, Julien Touxagas, Frédéric Vaccari

Ireland

30 Man Squad

• Coach: Andy Kelly

Club Team	Players
Barrow Raiders	Liam Harrison, Brett McDermott
Batley Bulldogs	Sean Hesketh
Bradford Bulls	Michael Platt
Carlow Crusaders	Paddy Barcoe
Dewsbury Rams	Matthew Fox
Featherstone Rovers	Liam Finn
Halifax	Bob Beswick
Harlequins RL	Jason Golden, Jamie O'Callaghan
Huddersfield Giants	Simon Finnigan, Scott Grix, Gregg McNally
Irish Students	Adam Aigbokhae
Leeds Rhinos	Luke Ambler, Kyle Amor
Leeds Met	Stevie Gibbons
North Dublin Eagles	Joseph Taylor
Oldham	John Gillam, Wayne Kerr, Marcus St Hilaire, Matty Ashe
Salford City Reds	Sean Gleeson, Ryan Boyle
Sheffield Eagles	Tim Bergin
Treaty City Titans	Brendan Guilfoyle
Warrington Wolves	Simon Grix, Tyrone McCarthy
Widnes Vikings	David Allen
Wigan Warriors	Michael McIlorum, Eamon O'Carroll

Scotland

Preliminary Squad^[4]

• Coach: Steve McCormack

Club Team	Players
Batley Bulldogs	Gareth Moore
Bradford Bulls	Joe Wardle
Carpentras XIII	Lee Paterson
Castleford Panthers	Jamie Benn
Coventry Bears	Brad Massey
Doncaster	Dean Colton, Rob Lunt
Edinburgh Eagles	Craig Borthwick, Giles Lomax
Featherstone Rovers	Jon Steel
Gateshead Thunder	Crawford Matthews
Halifax	Sam Barlow
Harlequins RL	Oliver Wilkes
Huddersfield Giants	Danny Brough
Hull Kingston Rovers	Ben Fisher
Hunslet Hawks	Neil Lowe
Leigh Centurions	John Duffy
London Skolars	Dave Arnot
Sheffield Eagles	Andrew Henderson, Jack Howieson, Brendon Lindsay, Mitch Stringer, Alex Szostak
Swinton Lions	Richard Hawkyard
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats	Dale Ferguson, Kevin Henderson
Whitehaven	Dexter Miller, Spencer Miller
Workington Town	Brett Carter, Paddy Coupar

Wales

48 Man Squad:^[5]

• Coach: Iestyn Harris

Club Team	Players
AS Carcassonne	Gareth Dean
Barrow Raiders	Andy Bracek, Matt James
Batley Bulldogs	Byron Smith
Bradford Bulls	Craig Kopczak
Burleigh Bears	Mark Lennon
Castleford Tigers	James Evans
Central Queensland Comets	Chris Beasley, Ian Webster
Crusaders	Anthony Blackwood, Ben Flower, Chris Davies, Dafydd Carter, Elliot Kear, Gareth Thomas, Gil Dudson, Jack Pring, Jamie Murphy, Jordan James, Lee Williams, Lewis Mills, Lloyd White, Luke Dyer, Rhodri Lloyd
Featherstone Rovers	Ross Divorty
Gateshead Thunder	Matt Barron
Halifax	Sean Penkywicz
Hull Kingston Rovers	David Mills
Leeds Met	Rhys Griffiths
Leigh East	Owain Brown
London Skolars	Matt Thomas
Mackay Cutters	Neil Budworth
South Wales Scorpions	Aled James, Andrew Gay, Ashley Bateman, Christiaan Roets, Geraint Davies, Joe Burke, Lewis Reece, Steve Parry
St Helens R.F.C.	Jacob Emmitt
Swinton Lions	Ian Watson, Phil Joseph
Warrington Wolves	Ben Evans, Rhys Evans, Rhys Williams
Wigan Warriors	Ben Davies
Unattached	Mark Roberts

Standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Diff	Points
Wales	3	3	0	0	103	63	+40	6
France	3	2	0	1	95	48	+47	4
Scotland	3	1	0	2	76	108	-32	2
Ireland	3	0	0	3	76	131	-55	0

Pre-tournament matches

Wales announced that they would be playing two friendly warm-up matches against Italy at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham on 3 and 6 October in preparation for the European Cup.^[6] However the first match was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch, making it a one-off match.^[7]

Wales vs Italy

Wales	6–13	Italy
Try: Gareth Thomas Goal: Lewis Reece (1/1)	Report	Tries: Christophe Caligari Ben Falcone Goals: Josh Mantellato (2/2) Field Goal: Ben Stewart

6 October 2010 19:30

Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales Attendance: 2,971 Referee: Ben Thaler (Rugby Football League)

Fixtures

Round 1

France	58–24	Ireland
Tries: Olivier Elima (4), Rémi Casty, Teddy Sadaoui, Cyril Stacul, Tony Gigot, Andrew Bentley, Jason Baitieri Goals: Maxime Grésèque (4), Nicolas Munoz (5)	Report	Tries: John Gillam (2), Sean Hesketh, Jamie O'Callaghan, Greg McNally Goals: Greg McNally, Liam Finn

9 October 2010

Parc des Sports, Avignon, France Attendance: 14,522 Referee: Phil Bentham (England) Player of the Match: Rémi Casty

Scotland	22–60	Wales
Tries: Ben Fisher (2), Andrew Henderson (2)	Report	Tries: Rhys Williams (3), Elliot Kear (3), Gareth Thomas, Mark Lennon, Lloyd White, Jacob Emmitt, Jordan James Goals: Lee Briers (8)

10 October 2010

Old Anniesland, Glasgow, Scotland Attendance: 787 Referee: Thierry Alibert (France)

Round 2

France	26–12	Scotland
Tries: Frédéric Vaccari, Tony Gigot, Sébastien Martins, Mickaël Simon, Kane Bentley Goals: T Munoz (3)	Report	Tries: Alex Szostack, Sam Barlow Goals: T Danny Brough (2)

16 October 2010

Stade Municipal d'Albi, Albi, France Attendance: 7,150[8] Referee: Phil Bentham

Teams:^[9]

FRANCE: 1. William Barthau, 2. Frédéric Vaccari, 3. Jean-Philippe Baile, 4. Teddy Sadaoui, 5. Cyril Stacul, 6. Tony Gigot, 7. Nicolas Munoz, 8. Mickaël Simon, 9. Kane Bentley, 10. Rémi Casty, 11. Olivier Elima, 12. Julien Touxagas, 13. Jason Baitieri. Subs: 14. Andrew Bentley, 15. Mathieu Griffi, 16. Sébastien Martins, 17. Romaric Bemba.

SCOTLAND: 1 Lee Paterson, 2. Dave Arnot, 3. Joe Wardle, 4. Kevin Henderson, 5. Jon Steel, 6. Brendan Lindsay, 7. Danny Brough, 8. Oliver Wilkes, 9. Ben Fisher, 10, Mitch Stringer, 11. Alex Szostak, 12. Sam Barlow, 13. Dale Ferguson. Subs: 14. Andrew Henderson, 15. Paddy Coupar, 16. Neil Lowe, 17. Jack Howieson.

Wales	31–30	Ireland
Tries: Lennon (2), Webster, Williams (2), Roets Goals: White (3) Drop-goal: Briers.	Report	Tries: Bergin, McNally (2), Boyle, Ambler Goals: McNally (5)

17 October 2010

The Gnoll, Neath, Wales Attendance: 2,165 Referee: Thierry Alibert (France) Player of the Match: Gregg McNally[10]

Round 3

France	11–12	Wales
Tries: Nauroy, Sadaoui Goals: Munoz (1/2) Drop goals: Gigot	Report	Tries: Williams, Thomas Goals: White (2/3)

23 October 2010

Stade Municipal d'Albi, Albi, France Attendance: 10,413 Referee: Phil Bentham (England)

• Wales are Champions and will play in the 2011 Four Nations.

Ireland	22–42	Scotland
Tries: Gillam (5, 65) Grix (15), Finn (38) Goals:McNally (3/4)	Report	Tries: Fisher, K.Henderson, A.Henderson, Ferguson 2, Carter, Stringer, Wardle Goals:Patterson (5/8)

24 October 2010

Tallaght Stadium, Dublin, Ireland Attendance: 1,063 Referee: Thierry Alibert (France) Player of the Match: Dale Ferguson

References

1. RLEF (30 July 2010). "EUROPEAN CUP BRINGS BIG NAME SPONSOR ON BOARD". Rugby League European Federation. Archived from the original on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
2. "Rleague". Retrieved 26 October 2009.
3. "France name Alitalia European Cup squad". rleague.com. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
4. "Brough returns to Scotland squad". Sporting Life. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
5. "Wales release 48-man training squad". rleague.com. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
6. "Wales plan autumn Test schedule". BBC News. 26 July 2010. Archived from the original on 30 July 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
7. "Wales clash rained off"^{[dead link]} UKPA (4 October 2010)
8. Black, Gareth (18 October 2010). "France 26 – 12 Scotland: French end Scots interest in Euro Cup". The Scotsman. UK: Johnston Press Digital Publishing. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
9. Willacy, Gavin (17 October 2010). "Rugby League: France 26 – 12 Scotland". Scotland on Sunday. UK: Johnston Press Digital Publishing. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
10. Press Association (17 October 2010). "Lee Briers steers Wales past Ireland to European Cup finale in France". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 18 October 2010.