England's wheelchair rugby league team, the reigning world champions, opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a dominant 98-18 victory over Wales. Led by Rob Hawkins, who scored 11 tries in the opener, England aims to extend their dominance in Group A. Despite historically early exits in the men's and women's able-bodied competitions, the wheelchair squad remains a strong contender.
France and Ireland are key rivals, but Australia, the host nation, fields their strongest ever squad. The diverse England roster features players like Luis Domingos and Jack Brown, who overcame significant personal challenges to represent their country. Bayley Mc Kenna captains Australia, the tournament hosts aiming for a historic sweep across all three concurrent World Cup competitions.
England will next face the USA looking to replicate their opening success.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing