United States national wheelchair rugby league team

Last updated

United States
Team information
NicknameThe Hawks
Governing body USA Rugby League
Region Europe
Head coachGeoff Mason
CaptainJesse Lind
IRL ranking 8 Steady2.svg (July 21, 2025) [1]
Team results
First international
Biggest win
62–41 v Scotland (November 4, 2022)
Biggest defeat
6–116 v France (November 10, 2022)
World Cup
Appearances1 (first time in 2021 )
Best result3rd in group, 2021

The United States national wheelchair rugby league team represents the United States in wheelchair rugby league. The team, nicknamed the Hawks, is controlled by USA Rugby League, the governing body for rugby league in the United States. Formed in 2022, the team made its debut at the 2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup finishing third in their group with one victory and two defeats.

Contents

In 2019 the organizers of the 2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup announced the United States as one of the countries invited to participate in the tournament. [2] At the time of the invite there was no national team, so Australian Geoff Mason, a former player, was recruited to form a team.

History

2021 World Cup

Following try-outs a squad of 11 domestically based players was chosen and flew to England for the Cup. [3] The squad was captained by Jeff Townsend who had previously played wheelchair basketball and included just one non-disabled player, Micah Johnson. [4] In England the squad was joined by Matthew Wooloff, a player based in the United Kingdom. [4]

The team's first ever competitive match was against Scotland in Sheffield on November 4 with the US winning 62–41 with Mackenzie Johnson being named player of the match. [5]

The second group match was against Wales with the US defeated 32–50 in a hard-fought game. [6] The defeat left the US team with a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals but it would require Wales lose their last group game against Scotland while the US team would have to beat defending world champions and number 1 seeds, France.

The game against France was a one-sided affair as France ran in 21 tries to win 116–6 with Mackenzie Johnson scoring the only try for the US. [7] Mackenzie Johnson was named in the RLWC2021 Wheelchair Team of the Tournament. [8]

Hosting Wales

The team played its first matches at home in February 2024 when they hosted a two-match tour by Wales. [9] Both matches were played at the Sports Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Wales won both matches. [10]

2026 World Cup

In April 2025, it was confirmed that the United States had qualified to compete at the 2026 World Cup. [11]

Results

DateScore [a] OpponentCompetitionRef.
November 4, 202262–41Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 2021 World Cup [5]
November 7, 202232–50Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales [6]
November 10, 20226–116Flag of France.svg  France [12]
February 2, 202424–78Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Two match series friendly [13]
February 3, 202422–52Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales [14]

Records

IRL Wheelchair World Rankings
Official rankings as of July 2025
RankChangeTeamPts %
1Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 100
2Steady2.svgFlag of France.svg  France 96
3Steady2.svgFour Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 60
4Steady2.svgFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 52
5Steady2.svgFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 49
6Steady2.svgFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 41
7Steady2.svgFlag of Spain.svg  Spain 27
8Steady2.svgFlag of the United States.svg  United States 25
9Increase2.svg 1Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 0
Complete rankings at
www.internationalrugbyleague.com
United States historical IRL Wheelchair World Rankings
Dec
2022		Jun
2023		Dec
2023		Jun
2024		Dec
2024		Jun
2025
Ranking8887 (Green Arrow Up Darker.svg1)8 (Red Arrow Down.svg1)8
References [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

Notes

  1. ↑ United States score given first

References

  1. ↑ "IRL World Rankings: Wheelchair". International Rugby League. July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  2. ↑ "USA confirmed for Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2021". usarl.org. July 18, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ Hoge, Sophie Keyes (August 13, 2022). "USA Wheelchair Rugby League prepares for World Cup Championship in England, final practices take place in Columbia". wistv.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Ibbetson, Stephen (November 6, 2022). "USA wheelchair team's remarkable journey from having no team to winning World Cup opener". TotalRL.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Scotland 41 v 62 United States". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Wales 50 v 32 United States". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Brave Newcomers Bow Out". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3354. November 13, 2022. p. 26.
  8. ↑ McAllister, Josh (November 15, 2022). "RLWC2021: Women's and Wheelchair Teams of the Tournament revealed". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Wales Wheelchair Rugby League confirm squad for USA tour". ITV News . December 10, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Wheelchair Fixtures – WRL International Sides". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Six countries have places confirmed for Wheelchair World Cup". Total RL. April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  12. ↑ "France 116 v 6 United States". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  13. ↑ "United States 24 v 78 Wales". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  14. ↑ "United States 22 v 52 Wales". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Explainer: Wheelchair IRL World Rankings (Dec 2022)". IRL. December 22, 2022. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Serbia, Philippines, Wales big movers in IRL World Rankings". IRL. July 27, 2023. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Kangaroos still ranked No.1 despite record loss to Kiwis". NRL. December 21, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  18. ↑ "World Rankings: Wheelchair". IRL. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024.
  19. ↑ "IRL World Rankings: June 30, 2024". IRL. July 26, 2024. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  20. ↑ "IRL World Rankings: December 2024". IRL. December 19, 2024. Archived from the original on January 17, 2025. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  21. ↑ "World Rankings Updated". ERL. December 19, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  22. ↑ "World Rankings: Wheelchair". IRL. Archived from the original on July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  23. ↑ "IRL World Rankings: June 30, 2025". IRL. July 22, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
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