The return of Nicolas Clausells inspired France to a revenge victory over England which regained the Fassolette-Kielty Trophy in a compelling and often brutal Wheelchair Rugby League International in Normandy.
Clausells, the nephew of France’s veteran captain Gilles, did not travel for the previous 2024 meeting of the best two teams in the Wheelchair game in Wigan last month, which England won 66-33.
But his introduction from the interchange bench midway through the first half transformed the balance of power in another classic match between these two old and fierce rivals, in front of a packed and captivated crowd at the Pole Hippique in Saint-Lo – normally an equestrian venue which had been transformed by the transportation of the pitch used for Wheelchair Rugby in the Paralympics in Paris.
Incredibly, Clausells scored 28 of France’s points from four tries and six goals from as many attempts.
England had taken a 12-0 lead in the first 25 minutes with tries from Josh Butler, the Leeds Rhinos youngster who won the Wheels of Steel in 2024 as the outstanding player in the Betfred Wheelchair Super League, and from the Nottingham-born, Perpignan-based substitute Sebastien Bechara.
But the match turned on an incident in the 30th minute when Nicolas Clausells touched down in the left corner for France’s opening try, provoking a scuffle between the teams which led to Bechara and France’s Damien Dore being sent to the sin bin.
Tempers had been bubbling from the kick-off, with the collisions so intense that Butler’s glasses were broken, and Gilles Clausells was forced off by serious damage to his wheelchair.
France and especially Nicolas Clausells relished the extra space in the five minutes for which the match was four players per side, as he scored a second try and added his second conversion.
France then took the lead for the first time late in the first half when a brilliant pass from Nicolas Clausells sent over Jonathan Hivernat.
Clausells again converted from wide out, then landed a penalty nine minutes into the second half to extend France’s lead to 20-12.
England hit back with Butler’s second after brilliant work from Bechara and Jack Brown, and added a fourth try later in the second half when Rob Hawkins touched down a pinpoint kick from Nathan Collins – and Collins landed both conversions from wide out.
But France had responded to Butler’s try with Nicolas Clausells scoring his third, and it was that man again who dummied over for his fourth after Hawkins’ score had reduced the deficit to 26-24.
Even then, England set up a thrilling finish when Hawkins scored his second from a brilliant long pass from Collins. But France hung on for a victory which clearly meant so much to their players.
England: 1 Tom Halliwell (capt), 2 Rob Hawkins, 3 Nathan Collins, 4 Josh Butler, 5 Rob Hawkins. Interchange: 6 Jack Brown, 7 Mason Billington, 8 Sebastien Bechara. Ninth Player (unused): 9 Joe Coyd.
Tries: Butler 2, Bechara, Hawkins 2. Goals: Collins 4.
France: 2 Gilles Clausells (capt), 3 Florian Guttadoro, 4 Jeremy Bourson, 7 Damien Dore, 12 Leo Hivernat. Interchange: 6 Julian Pennella, 8 Jonathan Hivernat, 13 Nicolas Clausells. Ninth Player (Unused): 1 Lionel Alazard.
Tries: N Clausells 4, J Hivernat. Goals: N Clausells 6.
Half-Time: France 18 England 12
Lead Referee: Ollie Cruickshank (Scotland).
Second Referee: Djamel Merzouk (France).
Attendance: 2,000 est.
