BEN EVANS is hoping to be involved in Wales' quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Originally scheduled to take place in France next year, the global tournament has since been delayed and it will now take place in Australia and Papua New Guineau.

Wales will take on Jamaica in a senior men’s rugby league international at The Gnoll in Neath on October 15.

It will be Wales’ first full senior men’s international since the last World Cup in 2022 and the first in South Wales since 2016. Wales’ last game on home soil was in Wrexham against Ireland in 2018.

North Wales Crusaders' player Evans told CruCast: "I've been in contact with the team manager, Darren (Morson).

"We've got a friendly against Jamaica at The Gnoll down in Neath and then a week over in France against Serbia and France, which is a must-win if we want to have a chance to be able to even get to the World Cup.

"Obviously, with the change of countries and venues, you know, France were meant to hold it and now they're unable to.

"So, got pushed back a year and they've reduced the teams, which is really disappointing, really.

"Especially for smaller nations like Wales, Scotland, Ireland, you know, and even just to grow the game of rugby league, I think.

"You look at other sports, it's grown through international representation.

"Even the Olympics... no-one would normally watch UK, sort of, track and field and stuff, but as soon as it's a global thing with countries, everyone's watching.

"So, it's a shame that they've reduced it from 16 to 10 teams and it makes our road to get there considerably harder, but one thing with our Welsh team is that we over-achieve.

"I don't think it's an unrealistic goal to get there.

"We've just got to sort of take this year's games and take the opportunity, really."

Fresh from a season with Championship outfit Barrow Raiders, Evans penned a deal with Crusaders last December.

Evans began his career at Super League outfit Warrington Wolves with loan spells at Bradford Bulls, Leigh and Rochdale, before leaving Warrington to join London Broncos ahead of the 2017 season.

He made close to half-a-century of appearances in the capital before crossing the channel and making the switch to Toulouse in 2019.

Evans returned to Bradford for the 2021 season where he made 33 appearances for the club, scoring five tries, earning himself a move to Cumbria to link up with Barrow Raiders.

On the international stage, Evans made his Wales debut against France in 2012 before going on to represent his country at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Evans, who has made 12 appearances for Wales, added: "We've just got to concentrate on this year.

"Have a good win against Jamaica, friendly, Serbia and then sort of do-or-die with France, hopefully, and then we get that second opportunity to go over there and try and beat Cook Islands and, like I said, it's no easy task.

"The road to this World Cup is a lot harder than previous.

"It will be quite an achievement to get there, I think."