Superb attacking raids by Joe Coyd and Jack Brown helped England to their third World Cup trophy with a 50-38 win over France in an action-packed final at WIN Entertainment Centre.
Coyd and Brown scored seven times between them in England’s nine-to-seven try victory that ensures England's name is engraved on the IRL Cup again after 2008 and 2022.
The other two tries were scored for England by newly crowned Golden Boot winner, Robert Hawkins.
“It’s unbelievable – I can’t believe it – I’m so proud of the boys,” centre Mason Billington said.
“I never in my wildest dreams imagined this could happen.”
In the earlier match to decide third and fourth placings, Australia overpowered Ireland 70-24.
In the final scores were locked up three times and the lead changed on four occasions as France and England traded four-pointers.
Coyd named player of the World Cup Final
In the end it was Coyd and Brown working together that allowed the Empire to score three of the last four tries.
Tonight was a rematch of the last World Cup final, where England snuck home 28-24.
Pre-game NRL referees Ashley Klein, Wyatt Raymond and Belinda Sharpe, alongside Super League referee Tara Jones, presented the four match officials for the wheelchair final with their jerseys.
Hawkins was also presented with his IRL Golden Boot trophy at full-time – the third time he’s taken the honour – before he and his teammates received their winners’ medals.
The IRL world rankings for wheelchair will be published ‘officially’ once the last international match is held for 2026 – the Philippines v Japan in late November.
But based on the results in Wollongong this week the rankings will be:
1. England,
2. France
3. Australia
4. Ireland
5. Wales
6. Scotland
7. New Zealand
8. USA
Match: England v France
Final -
home Team
England
away Team
France
Venue: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
World Cup Final
England 50 bt France 38
England’s first two tries – both to Coyd – were off French mistakes. Firstly a penalty for a late tackle and then a dropped ball.
There’s never been much affection between these two rivals and there were several melees early.
After a penalty went the Tricolours way following a scuffle, Jeremy Bourson crossed in the left corner for France’s first points.
Only four points separated them in the 2022 World Cup final, and it was another close affair four years on.
Brown's third may have secured England a World Cup
Scores were locked up 10-all and 22-all during the first half before a late England try to Brown put their noses in front 28-22 at the break.
France’s Dany Denuwelaere scored three tries but the French let themselves down with some poor goal-line defence as fatigue crept into the second half.
Tricolours coach Cyril Torres said England “proved how good you are again”.
“We tried and we have worked hard so I am still very proud,” he said.
3rd v 4th Play-off
Australia 70 def Ireland 24
Match: Ireland v Australia
Final -
home Team
Ireland
away Team
Australia
Venue: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
Australia enjoyed the start against Ireland that they had wanted in the England semi-final by racing to three quick tries in the opening 10 minutes.
By half-time Diab Karim and Toby Popple had doubles giving the Wheelaroos a 40-4 lead.
Early in the second, captain Bayley McKenna’s third try assist brought up Daniel Anstey’s hat-trick and propelled Australia to the 50-point mark.
But then came a resurgence from the Wolfhounds with three tries to Oran Spain, Joseph Calcott and Jack Mangan midway through the half.
Anstey named player of the match against Ireland
A fourth to Peter Johnston Jnr seemed to snap the Australians back into life and the Wheelaroos rattled off three to finish – two to McKenna to take his personal points haul to 26 (three tries, seven conversions).
Player of the Match went to Anstey for his three tries.
Australia exited the 2022 World Cup in the semi-finals as well but McKenna said the Wheelaroos were a better team than four years ago.
”One hundred per cent we’re in a better spot than 2022 but the rest of the world has also gone up a few notches,” he told NRL.com.
McKenna kicks ahead for Anstey's third
“Obviously we wanted to be playing in the final and that’ll be the goal next time.
"But we need to keep a core group of five to six players together for 2030 so we can regroup, review and rebuild.
“We lose Peter Arbuckle tonight as he’s played his last World Cup – he’s a stellar player and one that I’ve looked up to. But we’ve also got to bring in some new blood to keep the Wheelaroos moving forward.”
New Zealand 30 bt USA 26, Thursday November 12, 11.00am AEDT
Match: New Zealand v USA
Final -
home Team
New Zealand
away Team
USA
Team Lists
Line-Ups
-
Fullback for New Zealand is number 2 Ryan CharlesFullback for USA is number 12 Antoine Gray
-
Winger for New Zealand is number 3 Nikia Fa'atauWinger for USA is number 1 Mackenzie Johnson
-
Centre for New Zealand is number 5 Jayson HookerCentre for USA is number 8 Brent Hawkins
-
Winger for New Zealand is number 6 Kauri MurrayWinger for USA is number 11 Andy Kingsley
-
Centre for New Zealand is number 10 Jamie TappCentre for USA is number 10 William Johnstone
Interchange
-
Interchange for New Zealand is number 1 Jack BrownInterchange for USA is number 4 Freddie Smith
-
Interchange for New Zealand is number 4 Joshua Hirini-BarclayInterchange for USA is number 5 Jesse Lind
-
Interchange for New Zealand is number 8 Mitch StoneInterchange for USA is number 7 Will Fox
-
Interchange for New Zealand is number 9 Pele SulusiInterchange for USA is number 9 Lavern Anderson
Last updated:
We've got a game on our hands!
New Zealand v USA – Placing Final, 2026
Wales 52 bt Scotland 30, Thursday November 12, 1.30pm AEDT
Match: Wales v Scotland
Final -
home Team
Wales
away Team
Scotland
Team Lists
Line-Ups
-
Centre for Wales is number 1 Sid RamseyCentre for Scotland is number 3 James Simpson-Hill
-
Centre for Wales is number 2 Fionn McCabeCentre for Scotland is number 5 Olivia Fulton
-
Winger for Wales is number 5 Jodie Boyd-WardWinger for Scotland is number 4 David Hill
-
Fullback for Wales is number 7 Stuart WilliamsFullback for Scotland is number 1 Calum Davidson
-
Winger for Wales is number 11 John BerrimanWinger for Scotland is number 6 Max Owen
Interchange
-
Interchange for Wales is number 4 Andrew HigginsInterchange for Scotland is number 2 Arran King
-
Interchange for Wales is number 6 Jonathan GillInterchange for Scotland is number 7 Sarah Devlin
-
Interchange for Wales is number 8 Gareth RamseyInterchange for Scotland is number 8 Hamish Douglas
-
Interchange for Wales is number 10 Mark WilliamsInterchange for Scotland is number 9 Calum Japes
Last updated:
Scotland thread the needle
Wales v Scotland – Pool A Placing Play-off, 2026
