England have booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup after beating the USA 134-0 in Wollongong.
The emphatic win featured 23 tries, with eight England players getting on the scoresheet. Luis Domingos, Chris Haynes and captain Mason Billington each crossed four times, while Finlay O’Neill was named player of the match after contributing 38 points, including two tries and 15 conversions.
England’s performance followed an opening 98-18 win over Wales, which had left Rob Hawkins saying the team was not yet playing to its standards. Billington said the side had improved to a “seven out of 10” performance by sticking to the principles discussed during the week.
England’s semi-final route now takes shape
England will face either France or Australia in next week’s semi-final. The final group matches will decide the exact pairings, with England due to play Ireland on Friday.
France defeated New Zealand 120-10, while hosts Australia beat Scotland 104-24. Ireland also secured qualification alongside England with a 68-28 victory over Wales.
Why it matters for Britain
England’s progress keeps a British team in contention for the wheelchair rugby league world title. The tournament also gives players such as Sheffield Eagles’ Luis Domingos a prominent international stage.
