England’s wheelchair rugby league team still targets World Cup final as USA and other opponents look to stop them

A powerful opening for England

England began their title defence with a commanding victory over Wales at Win Entertainment Centre in Wollongong. They scored 18 tries, with Rob Hawkins accounting for 11, and next meet the USA on Tuesday.

Hawkins, 25, was named the Wheelchair Super League’s best player this year after helping Halifax Panthers win the Grand Final. He was also part of England’s 2022 World Cup-winning side and is pursuing another title.

A team with varied journeys

Luis Domingos played basketball for Portugal before changing both sport and country; he now represents Sheffield Eagles and England. Jack Brown spent five and a half years in Australia, where he coached and worked as a welder in Queensland’s mines, before choosing sport full time. He is set to become Wakefield’s wheelchair head coach next season.

Finlay O’Neill turned to wheelchair rugby league after a knee dislocation at 16 ended his running rugby league career. He joined Halifax Panthers three years ago and described discovering the wheelchair game as a blessing in an interview with BBC Sport.

How the game is played

Wheelchair rugby league uses teams of five, with six tackles available to score. A tackle is made by removing a tag from the ball carrier’s shirt; tries are worth four points, while penalties and conversions count for two.

Matches last 80 minutes and use an oval ball. Teams can field no more than two non-disabled players and three disabled players at once, with conversions taken by punching the ball from a tee.

France and Australia threaten

France are England’s leading rivals, having faced them in the last three finals. France won in 2013 and 2017, but England took the 2022 meeting 28-24 in Manchester; Ireland, ranked third globally, also look dangerous after beating the USA 110-10.

Australia opened with a 112-14 win over New Zealand and have assembled their strongest squad yet. Their captain, Bayley McKenna, began playing in 2006 to support his father, who was paralysed in an accident. He has spoken about receiving online abuse from people who objected to a non-disabled player competing in the sport.

England and Australia played two close Tests last year, suggesting the contest may be less predictable. Australia are hosting the tournament’s matches in Wollongong and could potentially win the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions, all being held at the same time.