Wales national wheelchair rugby league team

Last updated

Wales
Team information
Governing body Wales Rugby League
Region Europe
Head coachAlan Caron
IRL ranking 5 Decrease2.svg 1 (30 June 2024) [1]
Team results
First international
World Cup
Appearances3 (first time in 2013 )
Best result

The Wales national wheelchair rugby league team represents Wales in wheelchair rugby league. They have competed at the World Cup, the European Championships and several tournaments within the British Isles, such as the Celtic Cup and Four Nations competitions.

Contents

History

In July 2012 Wales took part their first international competition, the Four Nations, a round-robin tournament between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. [3] [4] The tournament was held as part of preparations for the world cup taking place the following year. [5] At the 2013 World Cup Wales progressed from the group stage with wins over Australia and Ireland and defeat to England. They lost their semi-final against France and finished third by defeating Australia in the third-place play-off. [6] Wales were unsuccessful at the 2014 Four Nations and the 2015 European Championships where they lost all their matches. [7] [8]

In 2016 they joined Scotland and Ireland to compete in the Celtic Cup, which had been first contested the previous year [9] but became an annual three-team round-robin from 2016. [10] Wales won the tournament in 2016 and until 2023 were unbeaten in the Celtic Cup. [9] [11]

At the 2017 World Cup Wales finished bottom of Group A with losses to Australia, England and France. They then lost to Italy in the group play-offs but defeated Spain to take fifth place. [12] [13] At the 2021 World Cup Wales suffered their heaviest ever defeat by losing their opening match 6–154 to France. [14] However, victories over the United States and Scotland meant Ireland progressed to the knockout phase of the tournament where they lost to England in the semi-final. [15] [16] [17] Stuart Williams was one of the ten players named in the RLWC2021 Wheelchair Team of the Tournament. [18]

In February 2024, Wales travelled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to play a two-match series against the United States. [19] Wales won both matches. [20]

Squad

Wales squad for 2024 Celtic Cup
First team squadCoaching staff
  • Mason Baker – Hereford Harriers
  • Jessica Booth – Hereford Harriers
  • Richard Carver – Argonauts
  • Philip Davies – Hereford Harriers
  • Alex Powell – Torfaen Tigers
  • Lee Sargent – Cardiff Blue Dragons
  • Scott Trigg-Turner – Torfaen Tigers & London Roosters
  • Martin Turner – Hereford Harriers
  • Mark Williams Wigan Warriors

Head coach

  • Alan Caron



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 5 June 2024
Source(s): [21]

Competitive record

World Cup

World Cup Record
YearFinish
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2008 Did not enter
Flag of England.svg 2013 3rd
Flag of France.svg 2017 5th
Flag of England.svg 2021 Semi-final

Celtic Cup

Celtic Cup results by year: Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Opponent \ Year2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland xWWWWWWDL
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland xWWWWWWWL
Finish:x11111113
Source: [22] [23]
Notes:
  • 2015: Wales did not take part – Ireland and Scotland played each other twice [24]
  • 2020: The tournament was cancelled in 2020 [25]

Results and fixtures

DateOpponentScoreCompetitionRef.
7 July 2012Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 20–62012 Four Nations [26]
7 July 2012Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 44–4 [27]
8 July 2012Flag of England.svg  England 0–34 [28]
3 July 2013Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 104–6 2013 World Cup Group stage [6]
6 July 2013Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 25–16 [6]
9 July 2013Flag of England.svg  England 6–50 [6]
11 July 2013Flag of France.svg  France 30–71 2013 World Cup Semi-final [6]
13 July 2013Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 16–14 2013 World Cup 3rd-place play-off [6]
13 September 2014Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 10–582014 Four Nations [7]
13 September 2014Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 14–34 [29]
14 September 2014Flag of England.svg  England 6–80 [7]
9 August 2015Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 29–46Friendly [8]
24 September 2015Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 25–262015 European Championship [8]
25 September 2015Flag of England.svg  England 8–56 [8]
25 September 2015Flag of France.svg  France 5–52 [8]
26 September 2015Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 36–46 [8]
30 April 2016Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 76–262016 Celtic Cup [30]
30 April 2016Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 92–22 [31]
24 September 2016Exiles [Note 1] 42–182016 Four Nations [30]
24 September 2016Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 41–28 [33]
25 September 2016Flag of England.svg  England 14–56 [30]
25 September 2016Flag of England.svg  England 26–522016 Four Nations Final [30] [34]
29 April 2017Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 51–62017 Celtic Cup [12]
29 April 2017Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 71–0 [35]
20 July 2017Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 24–72 2017 World Cup Group stage [6]
22 July 2017Flag of England.svg  England 32–78 [6]
24 July 2017Flag of France.svg  France 10–118 [6]
25 July 2017Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 24–105 2017 World Cup Group stage play-off [6]
27 July 2017Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 66–45 2017 World Cup 5th-place play-off [6]
28 April 2018Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 112–412018 Celtic Cup [36]
28 April 2018Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 84–30 [37]
27 April 2019Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 102–102019 Celtic Cup [38]
27 April 2019Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 109–8 [39]
28 September 2019Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 90–122019 Tri-Nations [40]
28 September 2019Flag of England.svg  England 24–48 [39]
29 September 2019Flag of England.svg  England 40–542019 Tri-Nations Final [41]
12 June 2021Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 96–162021 Celtic Cup [42]
12 June 2021Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 102–18 [43]
26 June 2021Flag of England.svg  England 22–102Friendly [42]
16 October 2021Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 62–48Friendly [42]
30 October 2021Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 70–34Friendly [44]
7 May 2022Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 64–222022 Celtic Cup [45]
7 May 2022Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 116–6 [46]
8 October 2022Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 67–52Friendly [45]
29 October 2022Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 38–86Friendly [45]
4 November 2022Flag of France.svg  France 6–154 2021 World Cup Group stage [45] [14]
7 November 2022Flag of the United States.svg  United States 50–32 [45]
10 November 2022Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 70–36 [45]
13 November 2022Flag of England.svg  England 22–125 2021 World Cup Semi-final [45] [17]
18 June 2023Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 30–302023 Celtic Cup [47]
18 June 2023Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 76–30 [47]
14 January 2024 Armyrlcolours.png British Army 34–24Test series warm-up game [48]
2 February 2024Flag of the United States.svg  United States 78–24Two match test series [20]
3 February 2024Flag of the United States.svg  United States 52–22 [20]
8 June 2024Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 52–642024 Celtic Cup [20] [49]
8 June 2024Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 32–68 [20] [50]

Records

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

Honours

Notes

  1. 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 [32]

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