With the international presence in rugby league forever expanding, fans of international rugby league will receive a boost – with the Welsh national side announcing that they will play a friendly in June, against the French.
The match between the two semi-powerhouse nations, will take place at the Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium in Wrexham, on Saturday June 16 – which is the same day as England’s first game against the Exiles.
In an additional boost for the game itself, with no club matches scheduled for that particular weekend – it will allow both teams to field their strongest possible sides.
This particular international will be Wales first mid-season game in 11 years, and the first time they have played against France in an international, since October 2010.
“To be able to put on a mid-season Test shows a bit of progression to where we’ve come as we’ve not been in the position to do that in years gone by,” said Harris.
“Hopefully this will increase to two or three in years to follow.
“It’s going to be more difficult for us as there are a good number of our squad playing rugby league in Australia and we won’t be able to call on them for this match.
“But this means that a number of other players will get the opportunity to play and prove that they are good enough to be in the squad for the end of the year.
“It’s a progression game for us. Can we compete against a very strong French side with a couple of numbers down?
“It’s an important game for us to see where we’ve come as a squad. It will be an interesting game.”