England have made Wheelchair Rugby League history by winning the World Cup for a record third time.
Tom Coyd’s side beat France 50-38 in Friday’s final at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre in Australia, becoming the first nation to lift the trophy on three occasions.
The contest was a fiercely competitive one, with the teams having split their previous four meetings. England’s victory also continues a close rivalry that has produced narrow finals across the tournament’s recent history.
Joe Coyd led England’s attack with four tries, while Jack Brown scored a hat-trick. Rob Hawkins added two tries and played a major part in the win, including an assist for Brown before half-time.
France threatened to turn the match around after scoring several times either side of the interval, but England responded each time. Hawkins restored their six-point lead with an acrobatic finish before England pulled clear in the closing stages.
The result gives the wheelchair team another world title after their 2022 success. It also provides a strong finish to England’s campaign after the men’s and women’s teams were eliminated in the group stage.
Why it matters for Britain
England’s third title puts a British team at the top of wheelchair rugby league’s global record books. The high-quality final also showcased the skill and competitiveness of the wheelchair game to an international audience.
