Wales hammer Serbia to reach Euro play-off final in coach Kear's illness absence - BBC Sport

Ashton Robinson scored one of eight Wales tries against Serbia in Carcassone

Wales (30) 48

Tries: Fozard, Kear, Walker, Robinson, Connor Davies, Butt, Worthington, Coope-Franklin Cons: Fozard 8

Serbia (0) 0

Wales cruised into the European World Cup qualifiers play-off final with a 48-0 rout of Serbia in Carcassone on Tuesday.

They had to do so without head coach John Kear, however, after the 69-year-old was taken ill on Sunday, although he has since left hospital.

Instead assistant coach Mark Moxon took charge in France with the support of Wales Rugby League director of performance Clive Griffiths.

After seeing off Serbia, Wales will face France, who beat Ukraine 74-8 in Tuesday's later game.

The winner's of Saturday's encounter in Perpignan will earn a place at the 2025 World Series, in which the final 2026 World Cup spots will be on the line.

Wales took a step towards that goal as they emphatically ended Serbia's campaign, with Matty Fozard leading the way with the first of eight unanswered tries. Fozard also converted each touchdown.

Wales captain Elliott Kear, Ant Walker, Ashton Robinson and Connor Davies also went over in a dominant first-half display.

Moxon saw Mike Butt and Huw Worthington go over as the rout continued.

Serbia battled to the end, but were thwarted in attempts to get on the scoreboard and saw Joe Coope-Franklin cross with the game's final play for a debut try.

Wales' tally against Serbia is now 3-0 with an aggregate points score of 186-8 to Wales.

Before Wales won in his absence, boss Kear criticised the qualification process for the 2026 World Cup.

In a statement Wales RL said Batley Bulldogs head coach Moxon would continue to be in charge of the team for Saturday's encounter.

"All at Wales Rugby League send their best wishes to John, and ask everyone to respect the privacy of him and his family so he can focus on making a full recovery," added Wales RL.

Wales: Walkley; Coope-Franklin, Butt, W Evans, Williams; Kear (capt), Ralph, Worthington, Fozard; B Evans, Connor Davies, Clarke, Bowring.

Interchanges: Curtis Davies, Ross, Walker, Robinson.