| Team information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Wheel Kiwis |
| Region | Asia-Pacific |
| IRL ranking | 9  1 (19 December 2024) [1] |
| Team results | |
| First international | |
| Biggest defeat | |
| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 0 |
The New Zealand national wheelchair rugby league team represents New Zealand in wheelchair rugby league.
When the first Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup was held in Australia in 2008, it was planned that New Zealand would take part, but the team withdrew shortly before the start of the tournament. They were replaced by a scratch team, the Pacific Island Barbarians, which included former New Zealand international Tawera Nikau. [2] [3] As one of the top three rugby league nations, the absence of a wheelchair team representing New Zealand at the 2021 World Cup was notable and led to a number of groups, including the Warriors Community Foundation, New Zealand Rugby League and Disability Sport Auckland, working towards developing the sport in New Zealand with the aim of participating in the next World Cup. Assistance has also come from Australia with the Wheelaroos keen to build a strong trans-Tasman rivalry. [4] [5] [6] In November 2024, the New Zealand team played their first international match in a Test series against Australia at the Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland. Jamie Tapp became the first player to score for New Zealand, but Australia won both matches for a 2–0 series victory. [7] [8] In December 2024, New Zealand were included in the World Rankings for the first time. [9]
| Date | Opponent | Score | Competition | Venue | Attendance | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 November 2024 |  Australia | 4–98 | Two match series friendly | Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland | [7] | |
| 4 November 2024 | Australia | 8–110 | [8] |
Trans-Tasman is an adjective used primarily to signify the relationship between Australia and New Zealand. The term refers to the Tasman Sea, which lies between the two countries. For example, trans-Tasman commerce refers to commerce between these two countries.
The International Rugby League (IRL) is the global governing body for the sport of rugby league football. The IRL organises the Rugby League World Cup, the oldest international rugby World Cup, as well as the Women's and Wheelchair equivalent.
Ruben James Wiki is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative centre-turned-prop forward, he retired with the record for most international appearances of any rugby league player in history. As of 2023, he is still the highest capped Kiwi player ever. At club level Wiki played for the Canberra Raiders, winning the 1994 NSWRL Premiership with them before finishing his career with the New Zealand Warriors. He currently works as the NZRL's High Performance Manager and a High Performance Assistant with the New Zealand Warriors.
Wheelchair rugby league is a wheelchair-based version of rugby league football, one of two recognised disability versions of the sport. It was developed in France in 2000. Unlike other wheelchair sports, people without disabilities are allowed to compete in top-level competition. The sport is also unique in the fact that men and women of any age can play against each other in top-level competition.
Eventfinda Stadium is an indoor arena located in Wairau Valley, on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. The arena opened in 1992 and has a capacity of 4,179.
Gary Ross Freeman is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 2000s, who both captained and coached the New Zealand national team. He was arguably one of New Zealand's greatest Test halfbacks and at the time of his retirement he was the most-capped New Zealand test player and also held the record for most consecutive tests for New Zealand with 37.
Simon Alexander Mannering is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL. A New Zealand international second row forward, who could also play as a centre. He was appointed the New Zealand national team's captain in 2013 and was replaced by Jesse Bromwich in 2016 and was part of the 2008 World Cup-winning Kiwis team. Mannering was a one-club player who played his whole NRL career with the Warriors. With 301 appearances for the Warriors, Mannering is the club's most capped player.
Isaac John is a former New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who previously played for the Mount Pritchard Mounties in the Intrust Super Premiership. A Cook Islands and New Zealand international representative, he played as a five-eighth and halfback and previously played for the New Zealand Warriors and Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League, and the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the Super League.
The IRL Men's World Rankings are the ranking system for men's national teams in the sport of rugby league football. The teams of the member nations of the International Rugby League, rugby league football's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the most successful teams being ranked highest. A point system is used, with points being awarded based on the results of IRL-recognized international matches. Under the existing system, rankings are based on a team's performance over the last three years, with more recent results and more significant matches being more heavily weighted to help reflect the current competitive state of a team.
Women's rugby league is the female-only version of rugby league.
Tawera Nuieia Nikau is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative forward, he played club football at a number of different clubs in New Zealand, England and Australia during his career, including the Melbourne Storm's victory in the 1999 NRL season Grand Final.
Darrell Christopher Williams is a New Zealand rugby league selector and NRL Judiciary member and a former footballer and coach. A New Zealand international representative outside back, he played his club football in the Auckland Rugby League for Mt Albert and in Sydney's NSWRFL Premiership for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Parramatta Eels. He later coached the Samoan national team.
The New Zealand women's national rugby league team, also known as the Kiwi Ferns or New Zealand Kiwi Ferns, represents New Zealand in women's rugby league. They are administered by the New Zealand Rugby League.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is a New Zealand dual-code rugby international footballer who currently plays as a centre for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League, and as a Fullback for Samoa.
The Samoa women's national rugby league team, also known as the Fetū Sāmoa, represents Samoa in Women's rugby league. They are administered by the Rugby League Samoa.
Seven countries have hosted and/or co-hosted the Rugby League World Cup. England, France, Australia and New Zealand have hosted the World Cup on multiple occasions and the tournament has never been played outside its traditional 'heartlands' in these areas. The International Rugby League is responsible for picking hosts.
The Cook Islands women's national rugby league team, also known as the Cook Islands Moana represents Cook Islands in Women's rugby league. The Cook Islands have competed in three Women's Rugby League World Cup tournaments.
The Rugby League Pacific Championship is a rugby league tournament for national teams in Oceania. Its inaugural tournament was in 2019 as the "Oceania Cup".
The Australia national wheelchair rugby league team represent Australia in wheelchair rugby league. The team have played at all four World Cup tournaments and were finalists in the inaugural competition in 2008.
The 2024 Rugby League Pacific Championships are the third edition of the Rugby League Pacific Championships and the second under their current name. The championships consist of several international rugby league tournaments being played from October to November 2024 between nations of the Pacific region.
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