IRL Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026 is again being played alongside the Men's and Women's World Cups from October 30 in Wollongong.
England, ranked No.1 in the latest IRL Wheelchair World Rankings, opened their defence of the World Cup they won in Manchester in 2022 against Wales at WIN Entertainment Centre as part of a double-header also featuring Ireland v USA.
Wollongong will host the Wheelchair tournament in its entirety, with eight nations - Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, USA, Wales - playing 20 matches at WIN Stadium, including the final on November 13.
World champions England are the team to beat and prepared for the World Cup with a tour to Australia 12 months ago to play the Wheelaroos in a Wheelchair Ashes series.
Since England's 28-24 triumph over France in an epic World Cup final at Manchester Central in 2022, the game has gone from strength to strength, with a thriving Wheelchair Super League.
However, France won the previous two World Cups and will be out to regain their mantle as the top nation in Wheelchair Rugby League, while Australia fancy their chances on home soil.
Wheelchair rugby league is an exciting sport full of big hits and athletic plays, and the rules align with running rugby league, including the game consisting of two 40-minute halves and the ball having to be passed backwards.
How are the teams made up
Five players are on the court at any given time, with a further three players serving as substitutes. Teams can be mixed gender and there are no restrictions on age.
A common misconception is that wheelchair rugby league athletes have to have a physical disability, but that isn't the case, with up to two able-bodied players allowed on the court at any given time.
Scoring
Just like running rugby league, the aim is simple - ground the ball in the opposition in-goal area to score a try. Conversions, like all traditional kicking motions in wheelchair rugby league, are completed with a player's fist in a punching motion with drop goals "kicked" in the same way. Drop goals are 'kicked' in the same way.
Scoring plays are worth the same as they are in running rugby league, with four points for a try, two for a conversion and one for a drop goal.
Tackling
All players wear tags on their shoulders during a game; when at least one of them is removed from the player in possession by an opponent, that counts as one tackle.
Contact can be made with the chair of a ball-carrier, often resulting in big hits, and if a player can't progress or get the ball free, it counts as a tackle by default.
A play-the-ball is completed by touching the ball on the floor and passing to a teammate. Possession lasts for six tackles before the ball is handed over.
Group A
- England (1)
- Ireland (3)
- USA (8)
- Wales (5)
* IRL World Ranking in brackets
Group B
- Australia (4)
- France (2)
- New Zealand (9)
- Scotland (6)
* IRL World Ranking in brackets
Players to watch
Rob Hawkins (England)
Few wheelchair rugby league players' résumés are as impressive as England star Rob Hawkins. A World Cup winner and back-to-back International Rugby League Golden Boot recipient, Hawkins has established himself as one of the game's premier playmakers for both England and Halifax. After taking up the sport in 2014, following a battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Hawkins' rise has been remarkable. His skill, vision, and attacking flair have earned him multiple individual honours while helping Halifax achieve sustained success at club level. Fresh from starring in England's Ashes triumph over Australia, Hawkins will once again be central to his nation's World Cup ambitions. With a proven ability to change games and deliver on the biggest stage, the England star remains one of the tournament's biggest threats.
Joseph Calcott (Ireland)
Few players have risen through the sport as quickly as Ireland captain Joseph Calcott. After switching from wheelchair basketball in 2022, the hooker (No. 9) has become a central figure for both Ireland and Halifax. Despite only taking up the sport in 2022, Calcott's leadership qualities have quickly been recognised, culminating in his appointment as Ireland captain for the World Cup. The honour caps a remarkable rise from wheelchair basketball to leading his country on the sport's biggest stage. Coming from a family steeped in wheelchair sport, Calcott followed the path of his brothers before forging his own reputation in rugby league. Now a proud representative of Ireland and a success at club level with Halifax, the middle will play a crucial role as Ireland looks to challenge the world's best in Wollongong. Hoping to advance beyond the group stage, an accomplishment that the nation is yet to achieve.
James McCarthy (Ireland)
James McCarthy is an international multi-sport athlete and two-time Paralympian. James became involved in wheelchair rugby league in 2022 and was selected for the RLWC in London. A founding member of Munster Club in Ireland, he has been key to developing the game in Ireland and the progression of our nations team.
Jesse Lind (USA)
Jesse Lind is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a passionate wheelchair rugby league athlete who serves as captain of the USA WheelHawks. Originally from Jamestown, New York, Jesse discovered wheelchair rugby league after a spinal cord injury changed his life. A fierce competitor known for his determination, leadership, and love of the game, Jesse has helped pioneer wheelchair rugby league in the United States. After representing Team USA at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, he continues to lead the WheelHawks as they compete on the international stage and work to grow the sport across America.
Jodie Boyd-Ward (Wales)
Jodie will become the first wheelchair player to win 50 caps if she plays three matches in this World Cup. Qualifying through her Welsh grandfather, she switched to Wales in 2021 having previously played for Ireland and England. She made her international debut in the first ever UK and Ireland Four Nations tournament in 2012 for Ireland, before featuring for them at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, playing in all seven of their games in those two years. Following that 2013 tournament, she went on to win 22 caps for England where she won European Championship honours. She has now won 18 Welsh caps which includes three Celtic Cup victories in 2021 and 2022. She has also had domestic success with Leeds Rhinos as a winning member of their 2018 Super League and 2019 Challenge Cup squad, before helping them to a historic league and cup double in 2021, the Challenge Cup in 2022 and a Super League title in 2024.
Bayley McKenna (Australia)
We are ready to take them on: McKenna
Captain of the Australian Wheelaroos, Golden Boot finalist and dynamic playmaker leading the next generation of Australian Wheelchair Rugby League stars. Bayley McKenna has emerged as one of the brightest stars in international Wheelchair Rugby League, establishing himself as one of Australia's most exciting and influential players despite still being early in his career. Since taking up the sport alongside his father in 2019, Bayley has progressed rapidly through the representative pathway, making his Wheelaroos debut in 2022 and becoming one of the first names selected in both Queensland and Australian teams. His rapid rise has now seen him entrusted with the captaincy of the Wheelaroos as Australia prepares to contest the Rugby League World Cup on home soil. His rise has been underpinned by outstanding performances on the international stage. In 2025, Bayley was named Player of the Match against reigning world champions England after a commanding display that showcased his vision, creativity and composure under pressure. He has also been recognised among the world's best players through consecutive nominations for the International Rugby League Golden Boot Award in 2024 and 2025. A gifted playmaker and reliable goal-kicker, Bayley will lead Australia into the World Cup as one of the key figures in the Wheelaroos' campaign on home soil. Despite his growing international profile and the responsibility of captaincy, Bayley remains one of the most approachable personalities in the game. Instantly recognisable by his trademark mullet and relaxed nature, he is known for keeping things simple away from the pitch – including joking that he survives almost entirely on meat and refuses to eat vegetables. Behind the humour is an exceptional competitor whose commitment, talent and leadership have made him one of the faces of Wheelchair Rugby League in Australia and an exciting player for fans to follow throughout the World Cup.
Léo Hivernat (France)
Léo Hivernat's sporting journey is built around a special ambition: representing his country alongside brother, Jonathan Hivernat, on the international stage. A physically able-bodied athlete, his introduction to the sport was motivated by the opportunity to share a team and a sporting experience with his older brother, Jonathan, who is a three-times Olympian. Hivernat began playing Wheelchair Rugby League in Toulouse before joining the Dragons Catalans Handirugby three years ago. He earned his first selection for the French national team in 2024 making his international debut against England. Although France lost that first encounter, the team subsequently gained revenge in the return match.
Mitchell Stone (New Zealand)
Mitchell Stone is a 38-year-old wheelchair rugby league player who lives in Albion Park Rail, NSW, with his wife and two daughters. Growing up in the Sutherland Shire, Mitchell played junior rugby league for the Como Crocs until a boating accident in 2010 left him with paraplegia. Mitchell began playing Wheelchair Rugby League in 2011 and captained the Roosters to a premiership in his debut season. He has represented NSW on multiple occasions in State v State and represented Australia at the 2013 World Cup, becoming Wheelaroo #15. He currently plays for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the local competition. A glazier by trade, Mitchell now owns a business specialising in wheelchair prescription, servicing and repairs.
Pele Sulusi (New Zealand)
Dragons trio ready to fire for New Zealand
Pele Sulusi was a promising young rugby league player, playing representative football for the Sydney Roosters, when he was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 16. His diagnosis brought his playing career to an early end and led to the amputation of his leg below the knee. Pele began his Wheelchair Rugby League journey in 2022 and currently plays for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the NSW Cup. Outside of rugby league, Pele owns and operates Dare to Adapt, an adaptive fitness program that supports people living with disability to achieve their fitness goals.
Olivia Fulton (Scotland)
Scotland captain Olivia Fulton will lead her nation at the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup after overcoming immense personal challenges to return to elite sport. After a severe asthma attack left Fulton with physical disabilities, her hopes of representing her country were destroyed before she discovered wheelchair rugby league. Three years after joining the Edinburgh Giants, Fulton has risen to captain both club and country. As one of the few women competing at this year's World Cup, she will lead Scotland onto the international stage after a remarkable rise through the sport. She earned her first Scotland cap just three months after taking up the game. Fulton is renowned for her dedication.
Fulton will be central to Scotland's hopes of advancing beyond the group stage. Having gone from believing her sporting career was over to captaining her nation at a World Cup, she embodies the resilience and growth of Scotland's wheelchair rugby league program.
