Keighley Cougars winger Billy Walkley played his second-ever game for Wales on Tuesday night, as he helped them move one step closer to reaching the 2026 World Cup.
He started at full back as Wales thumped Serbia 48-0 in Carcassonne to progress into Saturday’s European Qualifying final.
That will see them face hosts France in Perpignan, who beat Ukraine 74-8 in their semi, with the winner moving on to next year’s World Series.
That four-team competition will also feature the Cook Islands, Jamaica and South Africa, with the winner and runner-up in that going on to reach the following year’s World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Tuesday night’s win was even more impressive given Wales pulled it off without long-serving head coach John Kear.
The former Bradford Bulls boss was taken ill on Sunday and admitted to hospital, meaning he did not travel to France with his squad.
Kear has since been released from hospital, but assistant coach Mark Moxon was in charge against Serbia, and will likely take the team for Saturday’s final with France too.
Ahead of the tournament in France, Wales faced Jamaica in Neath last week, with Kear’s side winning 22-16 in their first Test match in two years.
Walkley played a starring role on debut, producing an astonishing try-saving tackle on Darius Carter while the scores were level at 10-10, before his neat footwork set up Max Clarke to put the hosts in front moments later.
Walkley is not the only Cougars player to be playing international rugby league this week either.
Both the incoming Izaac Farrell and the outgoing Oscar Thomas have been named in Scotland’s squad for their friendly against Ireland on Sunday.
That will take place up in the North-East, at the Gateshead International Stadium, with the game being played in partnership with Cougars’ Betfred League 1 rivals Newcastle Thunder.
Farrell is joining Keighley on a two-year deal after his departure from Sheffield Eagles, while fellow half back Thomas will be departing the club when his contract expires next month.
Another player leaving Cougar Park is captain Ellis Robson, with Barrow announcing on Saturday that they had signed the back row on a two-year deal.
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