World Champions — Road to Waterford
France Ladies Gaelic Football Team
GAA World Games 2026 — One team. One identity. One ambition.
Waterford • Ireland | 13–17 July 2026
Editorial — Beyond the shamrock
Men’s and ladies Gaelic football were born in Ireland. Today, it makes the hearts of hundreds of enthusiasts beat in France.
Every training session. Every journey. Every volunteer. Every club.
It all comes together in a single ambition: to carry the French colours at the 2026 GAA World Games.
This special report tells the story of that adventure.
It is the story of a team, but above all of a community. Of a growing passion. Of an identity taking shape. Of a future we are building together.
One team. One ambition. One nation.
For more than twenty years, men’s and ladies Gaelic football have been growing across France. In every region, women and men come together around the values that give our sport its strength: Respect. Solidarity. Commitment. Pride.
In 2026, in Waterford, the French ladies team made their dream come true and rose to an enormous challenge, bringing the cup home as the first continental European team, men’s or women’s, to become World Champions!
To everyone who made this adventure possible – players, coaches, officials, volunteers, partners, families and supporters – thank you.
Together, we are writing history.
The victory
The French ladies Gaelic football team won the world title at the GAA World Games, held in Waterford, Ireland, on 17 July 2026.
After losing a semi-final to Canada three years ago, they won the final 23-7 against San Francisco this year.
This victory is a historic moment for French ladies Gaelic football and rewards the journey of an entirely amateur squad, made up of players from clubs across France and abroad.
One team. One ambition. One nation.
The team — From amateurs to the top of the world
They are teachers, a wine technician, a vet, a sales administrator, employees and entrepreneurs. They train after their working day, give up their weekends for competitions and pay for part of their own travel.
Yet in Waterford they took on the best international sides before winning the world title at the GAA World Games. A first for a continental European team, men’s or women’s.
- Goalkeeper — Laurie Dinier
- Defenders — Maïté Loscheter, Annaïg Flaux, Fanny Lezin (Capt.), Nuria Debruille
- Midfielders — Lucie Marchandeau, Corentine Boulogne, Manon Gendrot, Margaux Mansanarez (Vice-Capt.), Manon Silva
- Forwards — Ségolène Rivals, Amandine Dranguet, Tiphaine Léon, Léa Capelle
- Coaches — Claire Bonnal, Estelle Roche
- Physio — Timothé Cadeau
The squad
Today, we are world champions.
These few words seem simple to say, but they stand for years of work, sacrifices, miles travelled, injuries, self-doubt, moments of uncertainty, bursts of laughter, songs, “third halves”… and above all, commitment.
Not only the players who were on the team sheet today. But everyone who, for years, has turned up at every gathering. Thank you to those who are selected. Thank you also to those who are not always selected.
Because this title belongs to every one of you.
At every training session, you agreed to challenge yourselves. You raised the standard. You pushed the player next to you to get better, while accepting being pushed in turn. Nobody settled for what they could already do the day before.
It is this culture that has brought us here.
After every gathering, we went home with one idea in mind: to come back stronger next time. A little more technical. A little quicker. A little smarter in our play. A little closer as a group.
Thank you for continuing, year after year, to make this French team grow and to be each other’s biggest supporters.
Words from the captain
Winning this world title with this team is a huge source of pride.
Our greatest strength is our togetherness. A united, calm group, mentally solid in the key moments.
An incredible experience to live through, alongside players driven by the same desire to push themselves and the same hunger to win.
We will also remember all the memories shared off the pitch, which made the event so special, as well as the enthusiasm and unwavering support of our supporters.
We were buzzing! COT COT COT FRANCE
— Fanny L., defender, Captain
Words from the players
We’re on cloud nine. Representing France is an honour. Going home with the cup is the fruit of years of work. In 2023 we fell at the semi-final stage of the same competition after an unbeaten run. It was a huge disappointment.
We were determined to come back better prepared this year and to stand on the top step of the podium. And we did it!
We can be proud of our team, an exceptional group who never gave up against teams of an ever higher standard.
— Margaux M., midfielder, Vice-Captain
I’m proud of our ladies team. We lost the semi-final to Canada in Derry in 2023. We were determined to come back stronger, mentally and physically, and to take it all this year.
Every match, whether a defeat or a win, gave us all the skills we needed to get to the title. It is those years of work that allowed us to take the victory in this final.
Supporters on fire, extraordinary players throughout the competition. We earned this title and we are very proud of it.
The first European team ever to be World Champions 🔥
— Amandine D., forward, named MVP of the final
Nothing in sport is finer than a collective victory. And we owe this world champions’ title to a team that was as tight-knit on the pitch as off it, and which kept getting stronger throughout the competition.
A team that knew how to manage its strengths and weaknesses, the wins, the low moments, the pressure and the fatigue, and to raise its intensity and control in the final.
A team made up of players, coaches, a physio and incredible supporters.
Winning a competition on your own makes you proud for a few days, but winning together is engraved in memories and hearts for life.
COT COT COT…… FRANCE!
— Nuria D., defender
Words from the coach
We came with the ambition of becoming world champions. Our success is the fruit of several years of developing ladies Gaelic football in France, both in terms of the players and of a 100% female staff. The group has evolved, matured and developed a polished style of play. What a source of pride to bring this first world title to France!
— Claire B., Coach
Beyond the shamrock — Much more than a sporting result
This performance also highlights the growth of men’s and ladies Gaelic football in France, a sport that still gets little media coverage but is carried by a network of clubs, volunteers and enthusiasts that is developing fast.
This title tells the story of a sport born in Ireland and now played in every corner of the world.
It also bears witness to the vitality of French amateur sport, capable of reaching the highest international level thanks to the commitment of its players, coaching staff and volunteers.
Respect. Solidarity. Commitment. Pride.
Thank you
A world title is never won alone. Behind this cup lie thousands of hours of training, miles travelled, sacrifices, smiles, words of encouragement… and above all a wonderful human chain.
Today, we simply want to say… THANK YOU.
- Thank you to our sponsors and patrons who believed in this project and made this adventure possible: Kingspan Group, SUEZ France, Le Comptoir Irlandais, Connan Carrelage & Parquet, Ecocem, North West Data, Myes Bordeaux Merignac.
- Thank you to all the volunteers, referees, coaches, our physio, the whole staff, and the players who contributed, in one way or another, to this exceptional adventure.
- Thank you to our supporters, who were with us in Ireland and behind their screens. Your energy carried us from the first match to the last.
- Thank you to all the Gaelic sports clubs in France. Every training session, every volunteer, every licensed member helps our sport to grow and allows our teams to improve year after year.
- Thank you to our kit supplier McKvr, and to Group France, the Gaelic Sports Federation of France, Gaelic Games Europe, the GAA, the LGFA, World GAA, the whole organisation of the O’Neills World Games, Cavan County Board, Cavan Ladies Gaelic Football, the city of Waterford and all of Ireland for their trust, their welcome and their passion.
A special thought for the women’s France squad as a whole. Well done to France B, whose wonderful run to the semi-final created real healthy rivalry within the group. This success is the fruit of healthy competition, constant high standards and a shared desire to help French ladies Gaelic football grow. Beyond the two teams, there was only one collective, one jersey and one goal: to carry France’s colours at the highest level.
A big tip of the hat to our Gaelic handball representatives, Carole Lenne & Florian Vaujany, crowned world champions in the women’s and men’s events respectively. An exceptional performance that shows the tremendous momentum of French Gaelic sports.
Congratulations too to our men’s teams for their superb run to the semi-final, and thank you for their unfailing support throughout the competition.
Well done to the French Irish team, who were playing their first World Games under our colours, and a nod to our hurling team and their famous boost gels!
This title goes beyond the 14 players on the team sheet. It belongs to everyone who, for years, has kept our sport alive with passion, commitment and generosity.
Thank you for your trust. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your passion.
Together, we have written a page of history.
World Champions 2026.
COT! COT! COT! FRANCE!!
Photo credits: Sportsfile (Shauna Clinton), Robsports74, Gaelic Games Europe, Gaelic Sports Federation of France.