England national wheelchair rugby league team

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England
Team information
Governing bodyRugby Football League
RegionEurope
IRL ranking1st
Team results
World Cup
Appearances4 (first time in 2008)
Best resultWinners (2008, 2021)

The England national wheelchair rugby league team represents England in wheelchair rugby league. The team have played in all four World Cup tournaments, winning both the inaugural competition in 2008[1] and the 2021 edition on home soil,[2] and being runners up in both 2013 and 2017.[3][4] They also won the 2015 European Wheelchair Rugby League Championship.[5]

Wheelchair rugby league was introduced to England in July 2005 when a team from France toured Yorkshire. On 4 May 2006, the Rugby League International Federation accepted a proposal by France to endorse wheelchair rugby league. Later that month a team representing Great Britain began a tour of France and played the first official test match on 3 June 2006 losing 20–6 to their hosts.[6] The England team was established in 2007 under the auspices of the British Wheelchair Tag Rugby League Association and played its first test match, against France the same year.[7][8]

The team are sponsored by Betfred in a two-year deal signed in 2022 that included the wheelchair, men's and women's teams.[9] They train at facilities including Calderdale College in Halifax[10] and St George's Park National Football Centre.[11]

Current squad[edit]

Squad selected for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup (played in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).[12]

  • Tom Coyd (Coach)
  • Sebastien Bechara (Catalans Dragons)
  • Jack Brown (Halifax Panthers)
  • Wayne Boardman (Halifax Panthers)
  • Nathan Collins (Leeds Rhinos)
  • Joe Coyd (London Roosters)
  • Rob Hawkins (Halifax Panthers)
  • Tom Halliwell (Leeds Rhinos)
  • Lewis King (London Roosters)
  • Adam Rigby (Wigan Warriors)
  • Declan Roberts (Wigan Warriors)
  • James Simpson (Leeds Rhinos)

Competitive record[edit]

England wheelchair rugby league team celebrating at Old Trafford in 2022
World Cup Record
Year Finish
Australia 2008 Champions
England 2013 Runners-up
France 2017 Runners-up
England 2021 Champions

Results[edit]

Date Opponent Score Competition Venue Attendance Ref.
2007 France France ?–? Friendly Harrow, London [8]
7 November 2008  Australia 34–26 2008 Rugby League World Cup Group Stage[13] Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen [14][15]
10 November 2008 Barbarians[a] 72–4 Mount Druitt, Sydney [16]
12 November 2008 France France 26–18 Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen [17][18]
14 November 2008 Barbarians[a] 66–0 2008 Rugby League World Cup Semi Final Whitlam Centre, Sydney [19]
17 November 2008  Australia 44–12 2008 Rugby League World Cup Final Betts Stadium, Sydney [20][21]
28 August 2009 France France 36–38 Friendly Brunel University, London [17][22]
16 October 2010 France France 34–44 Friendly Cahors 1,060 [23]
8 October 2011 France France 34–32 Friendly Leigh Sports Village, Leigh [24]
7 July 2012  Ireland 34–12 2012 Four Nations[25] Hull [26]
7 July 2012  Wales 34–0 [27][28]
8 July 2012  Scotland 50–0 [29]
27 August 2012 France France 22–43 Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy Medway Park, Gillingham 700 [30][31]
3 July 2013 France France 20–28 2013 Rugby League World Cup Group Stage Medway Park, Gillingham [32][33]
6 July 2013  Ireland 86–8 [32][34]
9 July 2013  Wales 50–6 [32][35]
11 July 2013  Australia 81–10 2013 Rugby League World Cup Semi Final [32][36]
13 July 2013 France France 40–42 2013 Rugby League World Cup Final [37]
9 May 2014 France France 46–64 Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy Kindarena, Rouen 2,700 [38][39]
13 September 2014  Scotland 104–14 2014 Four Nations[40] Medway Park, Gillingham [41]
September 2014  Ireland 54–2
14 September 2014  Wales 80–6 [42]
23 September 2015 France France 56–26 Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy Medway Park, Gillingham [43]
24 September 2015 France France 24–26 2015 Rugby League European Championship Group Stage Medway Park, Gillingham [44]
25 September 2015 Wales Wales 56–8 [45]
25 September 2015  Ireland 66–16 [46]
25 September 2015  Scotland 102–0 [47]
26 September 2015 France France 28–24 2015 Rugby League European Championship Final [5]
24 September 2016  Scotland 90–10 2016 Four Nations[48] Mayfield Sports Centre, Rochdale [49]
24 September 2016 Exiles[b] 94–0 [49]
25 September 2016  Wales 56–14 [51]
25 September 2016  Wales 52–26 [52]
20 July 2017 France France 31–71 2017 Rugby League World Cup Group Stage Halle aux Sport, Carcassonne [32]
22 July 2017  Wales 78–32 Complexe La Rijole, Pamiers [32]
24 July 2017  Australia 80–26 Gymnase du Lac, Saint-Jory [32]
26 July 2017  Australia 76–24 2017 Rugby League World Cup Semi Final Gymnase Compans Cafferlli, Toulouse [32]
28 July 2017 France France 34–38 2017 Rugby League World Cup Final Parc des Expositions, Perpignan [32]
21 June 2019 France France 31–25 Two match series friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy Gymnase M. Guigou, Apt [53][54]
23 June 2019 France France 46–50 Palais des Sports de Toulon [55]
28 September 2019  Wales 48–24 2019 Tri-Nations[56] Plas Madoc Leisure Centre, Wrexham [57]
28 September 2019  Scotland 136–1 [58]
29 September 2019  Wales 54–40 [59]
21 October 2019  Australia 84–28 Ashes Test series Whitlam Leisure Centre, Sydney [60][61]
23 October 2019  Australia 58–50 University of Wollongong, Wollongong [60][61]
26 June 2021  Wales 102–22 Friendly English Institute of Sport, Sheffield [62]
10 November 2021 France France 24–49 Two match series friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy[63] Medway Park, Gillingham [64]
13 November 2021 France France 26–39 [65]
19 June 2022 France France 62–48 Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy National Basketball Centre, Manchester [66]
3 November 2022  Australia 38–8 2021 Rugby League World Cup Group Stage Copper Box, London 3,033 [67]
6 November 2022 Spain Spain 104–12 3,268 [68]
9 November 2022  Ireland 121–0 3,847 [69]
13 November 2022  Wales 125–22 2021 Rugby League World Cup Semi Final English Institute of Sport, Sheffield 1,318 [70]
18 November 2022 France France 28–24 2021 Rugby League World Cup final Manchester Central, Manchester 4,526 [71]
5 November 2023 France France 34–43 Two match series friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy Leeds Arena, Leeds 2,373 [72]
25 November 2023 France France 34–18 Palais des Sports, Marseille [73]

Records and statistics[edit]

IRL Wheelchair World Rankings
Official rankings as of December 2023
Rank Change Team Pts %
1 Steady  England 100
2 Steady France France 88
3 Steady  Wales 59
4 Steady  Australia 48
5 Steady  Ireland 42
6 Steady  Scotland 31
7 Steady Spain Spain 22
8 Steady  United States 19
9 Steady Italy Italy 0
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT

The team has only ever lost to France, the originators of the wheelchair game. England's biggest defeat was 31–71 on 20 July 2017.

England's biggest win was 136–1 over Scotland on 28 September 2019; their biggest win without conceding was 121–0 over Ireland on 9 November 2022.

Honours[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b The Barbarians/Pacific Islands were a replacement team due to New Zealand withdrawing from the 2008 World Cup[14]
  2. ^ The Exiles were a mix of Irish, Welsh and English players as Ireland were unable to travel with a full side to the 2016 Four Nations[50]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Sculthorpe backs England wheelchair team". LoveRugbyLeague. 12 October 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final: Tom Halliwell late try secures trophy for England". BBC. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  3. ^ "2013 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup – Wales Rugby League (WRL)". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  4. ^ "2017 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup – Wales Rugby League (WRL)". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Match Report: European Wheelchair Championship Final". European Rugby League. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Major stages and big events". Rugby XIII Fauteuil. Archived from the original on 13 November 2008.
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  8. ^ a b "Rugby League pioneers recognised in New Year's Honours". Rugby Football League. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014.
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  10. ^ Bower, Aaron (2 November 2022). "'It left me in awe': my hands-on initiation to wheelchair rugby league". the Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  11. ^ Association, The Football. "England Wheelchair Rugby League Visit St. George's Park". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
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  13. ^ "England Wheelchair team win World Cup". England Rugby League. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008.
  14. ^ a b "Wheelchair Rugby League tournament". 9 November 2008. Archived from the original on 12 November 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  33. ^ "England 20–28 France". European Rugby League. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
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  36. ^ "England 81–10 Australia". European Rugby League. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
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  38. ^ "France 64–46 England". European Rugby League. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
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  52. ^ "ENG Wheelchair 52–26 WAL Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
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  55. ^ "France 50–46 England". European Rugby League. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
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  58. ^ "ENG Wheelchair 136v1 SCOT Wheelchair". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  59. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 40–54 ENG Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
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  62. ^ "England 102–22 Wales". European Rugby League. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
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  65. ^ "England 26–39 France". European Rugby League. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
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  69. ^ "England Wheelchair 121-0 Ireland Wheelchair". RLWC2021. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
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