England national wheelchair rugby league team

Last updated

England
Team information
Governing body Rugby Football League
Region Europe
IRL ranking 1 Steady2.svg (30 June 2024) [1]
Team results
World Cup
Appearances4 (first time in 2008 )
Best resultWinners (2008, 2021)

The England national wheelchair rugby league team represents England in wheelchair rugby league. The team have played in all four World Cup tournaments, winning both the inaugural competition in 2008 [2] and the 2021 edition on home soil, [3] and being runners up in both 2013 and 2017. [4] [5] They also won the 2015 European Rugby League Championship. [6]

Contents

Wheelchair rugby league was introduced to England in July 2005 when a team from France toured Yorkshire. On 4 May 2006, the Rugby League International Federation accepted a proposal by France to endorse wheelchair rugby league. Later that month a team representing Great Britain began a tour of France and played the first official test match on 3 June 2006 losing 20–6 to their hosts. [7] The England team was established in 2007 under the auspices of the British Wheelchair Tag Rugby League Association and played its first test match, against France the same year. [8] [9]

The team are sponsored by Betfred in a two-year deal signed in 2022 that included the wheelchair, men's and women's teams. [10] They train at facilities including Calderdale College in Halifax [11] and St George's Park National Football Centre. [12]

Current squad

Squad selected for November 2024 fixtures against Flag of Spain.svg  Spain and Flag of France.svg  France. [13]

Competitive record

England wheelchair rugby league team celebrating at Old Trafford in 2022 England wheelchair rugby league team celebrating at Old Trafford.jpg
England wheelchair rugby league team celebrating at Old Trafford in 2022
World Cup Record
YearFinish
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2008 Champions
Flag of England.svg 2013 Runners-up
Flag of France.svg 2017 Runners-up
Flag of England.svg 2021 Champions

Results

DateOpponentScoreCompetitionVenueAttendanceRef.
2007Flag of France.svg  France  ?–?FriendlyHarrow, London [9]
7 November 2008Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 34–26 2008 Rugby League World Cup Group Stage [14] Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen [15] [16]
10 November 2008Barbarians [a] 72–4Mount Druitt, Sydney [17]
12 November 2008Flag of France.svg  France 26–18Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen [18] [19]
14 November 2008Barbarians [a] 66–0 2008 Rugby League World Cup Semi Final Whitlam Centre, Sydney [20]
17 November 2008Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 44–12 2008 Rugby League World Cup FinalBetts Stadium, Sydney [21] [22]
28 August 2009Flag of France.svg  France 36–38Friendly Brunel University, London [18] [23]
16 October 2010Flag of France.svg  France 34–44FriendlyCahors1,060 [24]
8 October 2011 Flag of France.svg France34–32Friendly Leigh Sports Village, Leigh [25]
7 July 2012Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 34–122012 Four Nations [26] Hull [27]
8 July 2012Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 50–0 [28]
8 July 2012Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 34–0 [29] [30]
27 August 2012Flag of France.svg  France 22–43Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy Medway Park, Gillingham 700 [31] [32]
3 July 2013Flag of France.svg  France 20–28 2013 Rugby League World Cup Group Stage Medway Park, Gillingham [33] [34]
6 July 2013Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 86–8 [33] [35]
9 July 2013Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 50–6 [33] [36]
11 July 2013Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 81–10 2013 Rugby League World Cup Semi Final [33] [37]
13 July 2013Flag of France.svg  France 40–42 2013 Rugby League World Cup Final [38]
9 May 2014 Flag of France.svg France46–64Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy Kindarena, Rouen2,700 [39] [40]
13 September 2014Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 104–142014 Four Nations [41] Medway Park, Gillingham [42]
September 2014Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 54–2
14 September 2014Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 80–6 [43]
23 September 2015Flag of France.svg  France 56–26Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy Medway Park, Gillingham [44]
24 September 2015Flag of France.svg  France 24–262015 Rugby League European Championship Group Stage Medway Park, Gillingham [45]
25 September 2015 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales 56–8 [46]
25 September 2015Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 66–16 [47]
25 September 2015Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 102–0 [48]
26 September 2015Flag of France.svg  France 28–242015 Rugby League European Championship Final [6]
24 September 2016Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 90–102016 Four Nations [49] Mayfield Sports Centre, Rochdale [50]
24 September 2016Exiles [b] 94–0 [50]
25 September 2016Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 56–14 [52]
25 September 2016Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 52–26 [53]
20 July 2017Flag of France.svg  France 31–71 2017 Rugby League World Cup Group StageHalle aux Sport, Carcassonne [33]
22 July 2017Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 78–32Complexe La Rijole, Pamiers [33]
24 July 2017Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 80–26Gymnase du Lac, Saint-Jory [33]
26 July 2017Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 76–24 2017 Rugby League World Cup Semi FinalGymnase Compans Cafferlli, Toulouse [33]
28 July 2017Flag of France.svg  France 34–38 2017 Rugby League World Cup FinalParc des Expositions, Perpignan [33]
21 June 2019Flag of France.svg  France 31–25Two match series friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy Gymnase M. Guigou, Apt [54] [55]
23 June 2019Flag of France.svg  France 46–50 Palais des Sports de Toulon [56]
28 September 2019Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 48–242019 Tri-Nations [57] Plas Madoc Leisure Centre, Wrexham [58]
28 September 2019Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 136–1 [59]
29 September 2019Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 54–40 [60]
21 October 2019Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 84–28Ashes Test series Whitlam Leisure Centre, Sydney [61] [62]
23 October 2019Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 58–50University of Wollongong, Wollongong [61] [62]
26 June 2021Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 102–22Friendly English Institute of Sport, Sheffield [63]
10 November 2021Flag of France.svg  France 24–49Two match series friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy [64] Medway Park, Gillingham [65]
13 November 2021Flag of France.svg  France 26–39 [66]
19 June 2022Flag of France.svg  France 62–48Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy National Basketball Centre, Manchester [67]
3 November 2022Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 38–8 2021 Rugby League World Cup Group Stage Copper Box, London 3,033 [68]
6 November 2022Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 104–123,268 [69]
9 November 2022Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 121–03,847 [70]
13 November 2022Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 125–22 2021 Rugby League World Cup Semi Final English Institute of Sport, Sheffield 1,318 [71]
18 November 2022Flag of France.svg  France 28–24 2021 Rugby League World Cup final Manchester Central, Manchester 4,526 [72]
5 November 2023Flag of France.svg  France 34–43Two match series friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy [73] Leeds Arena, Leeds 2,373 [74]
25 November 2023Flag of France.svg  France 34–18 Palais des Sports, Marseille [75]
26 October 2024Flag of France.svg  France 66–33Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy Robin Park Arena, Wigan [76]

Upcoming fixtures

Records and statistics

IRL Wheelchair World Rankings
Official rankings as of June 2024
RankChangeTeamPts %
1Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 100
2Steady2.svgFlag of France.svg  France 89
3Steady2.svgFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 61
4Increase2.svg 1Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 49
5Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 47
6Steady2.svgFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 38
7Increase2.svg 1Flag of the United States.svg  United States 27
8Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 23
9Steady2.svgFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 0
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT

The team has only ever lost to France, the originators of the wheelchair game. England's biggest defeat was 31–71 on 20 July 2017.

England's biggest win was 136–1 over Scotland on 28 September 2019; their biggest win without conceding was 121–0 over Ireland on 9 November 2022.

Honours

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 The Barbarians/Pacific Islands were a replacement team due to New Zealand withdrawing from the 2008 World Cup [15]
  2. ↑ The Exiles were a mix of Irish, Welsh and English players as Ireland were unable to travel with a full side to the 2016 Four Nations [51]

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References

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