New Zealand national wheelchair rugby league team

Last updated

New Zealand
Team information
NicknameWheel Kiwis
Region Asia-Pacific
IRL ranking NR (21 July 2025) [1]
Team results
First international
Biggest defeat
World Cup
Appearances0

The New Zealand national wheelchair rugby league team represents New Zealand in wheelchair rugby league.

Contents

History

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 in the running game, 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 New Zealand 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 also came from Australia, with the Australia national team 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] In April 2025, New Zealand invited to compete at the 2026 World Cup as Asia-Pacific representatives. [10] In September, New Zealand were announced as competitors in the inaugural NRL Wheelchair Championship. [11]

Results

DateScore [a] OpponentCompetitionVenueAttendanceRef.
1 November 20244–98Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Two match series friendly Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland [7]
4 November 20248–110Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia [8]
31 October 202524–14 Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland Reserves2025 NRL Wheelchair Championship Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, Gold Coast [12]
31 October 202510–24 Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland
1 November 20250–18 Flag of New South Wales.svg New South Wales
1 November 202518–22 Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg Australian Capital Territory
1 November 202550–6 Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Victoria
2 November 202536–6 Flag of South Australia.svg Flag of Western Australia.svg Flag of the Northern Territory.svg Affiliated States

Notes

  1. ↑ New Zealand score given first

References

  1. ↑ "IRL World Rankings: Wheelchair". International Rugby League. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  2. ↑ "Wheelchair Rugby League tournament". 9 November 2008. Archived from the original on 12 November 2008.
  3. ↑ "England Wheelchair team beat Australia in World Cup". RLEF. 7 November 2008. Archived from the original on 28 December 2009.
  4. ↑ "NZ Wheelchair eyeing RLWC2026 with Australian backing". International Rugby League. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  5. ↑ "Wheelchair rugby league is the newest battleground for sport between Australia and New Zealand". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  6. ↑ "New trans-Tasman rivalry to boost wheelchair game in Pacific". NRL. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  7. 1 2 "McKenna stars as Wheelaroos start World Cup campaign with big win". NRL. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Wheelaroos train with rivals ahead of Test as game grows in NZ". NRL. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  9. ↑ "Pacific nations on the rise in IRL World Rankings". NRL. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  10. ↑ "Six countries have places confirmed for Wheelchair World Cup". Total RL. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "LCA NRL Wheelchair Championships". NRL Wheelchair. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  12. ↑ https://www.nrlwheelchair.com.au/thrilling-start-to-the-lca-nrl-wheelchair-championships-on-the-gold-coast/
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