England national wheelchair rugby league team explained

England
Badge Size:150px
Governing Body:Rugby Football League
Region:Europe
World Cup Apps:4
World Cup First:2008
World Cup Best:Winners (2008, 2021)
Form:Wheelchair

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[1] and the 2021 edition on home soil,[2] and being runners up in both 2013 and 2017.[3] [4] They also won the 2015 European Rugby League Championship.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

The team are sponsored by Betfred in a two-year deal signed in 2022 that included the wheelchair, men's and women's teams.[8] They train at facilities including Calderdale College in Halifax[9] and St George's Park National Football Centre.[10]

Current squad

Squad selected for November 2024 fixtures against and .[11]

Competitive record

World Cup Record
YearFinish
2008
2013
2017
2021

Results

DateOpponentScoreCompetitionVenueAttendanceRef.
2007FriendlyHarrow, London[12]
7 November 200834–262008 Rugby League World Cup Group Stage[13] Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen[14] [15]
10 November 2008Barbarians72–4Mount Druitt, Sydney[16]
12 November 200826–18Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen[17] [18]
14 November 2008Barbarians66–02008 Rugby League World Cup Semi FinalWhitlam Centre, Sydney[19]
17 November 200844–122008 Rugby League World Cup FinalBetts Stadium, Sydney[20] [21]
28 August 200936–38FriendlyBrunel University, London[22]
16 October 201034–44FriendlyCahors1,060[23]
8 October 2011 France34–32FriendlyLeigh Sports Village, Leigh[24]
7 July 201234–122012 Four Nations[25] Hull[26]
8 July 201250–0[27]
8 July 201234–0[28] [29]
27 August 201222–43Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty TrophyMedway Park, Gillingham700[30] [31]
3 July 201320–282013 Rugby League World Cup Group StageMedway Park, Gillingham[32] [33]
6 July 201386–8[34]
9 July 201350–6[35]
11 July 201381–102013 Rugby League World Cup Semi Final[36]
13 July 201340–422013 Rugby League World Cup Final[37]
9 May 2014 France46–64Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty TrophyKindarena, Rouen2,700[38] [39]
13 September 2014104–142014 Four Nations[40] Medway Park, Gillingham[41]
September 201454–2
14 September 201480–6[42]
23 September 201556–26Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty TrophyMedway Park, Gillingham[43]
24 September 201524–262015 Rugby League European Championship Group StageMedway Park, Gillingham[44]
25 September 2015 Wales56–8[45]
25 September 201566–16[46]
25 September 2015102–0[47]
26 September 201528–242015 Rugby League European Championship Final
24 September 201690–102016 Four Nations[48] Mayfield Sports Centre, Rochdale[49]
24 September 2016Exiles94–0
25 September 201656–14[50]
25 September 201652–26[51]
20 July 201731–712017 Rugby League World Cup Group StageHalle aux Sport, Carcassonne
22 July 201778–32Complexe La Rijole, Pamiers
24 July 201780–26Gymnase du Lac, Saint-Jory
26 July 201776–242017 Rugby League World Cup Semi FinalGymnase Compans Cafferlli, Toulouse
28 July 201734–382017 Rugby League World Cup FinalParc des Expositions, Perpignan
21 June 201931–25Two match series friendly: Fassolette-Kielty TrophyGymnase M. Guigou, Apt[52] [53]
23 June 201946–50Palais des Sports de Toulon[54]
28 September 201948–242019 Tri-Nations[55] Plas Madoc Leisure Centre, Wrexham[56]
28 September 2019136–1[57]
29 September 201954–40[58]
21 October 201984–28Ashes Test seriesWhitlam Leisure Centre, Sydney[59] [60]
23 October 201958–50University of Wollongong, Wollongong
26 June 2021102–22FriendlyEnglish Institute of Sport, Sheffield[61]
10 November 202124–49Two match series friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy[62] Medway Park, Gillingham[63]
13 November 202126–39[64]
19 June 202262–48Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty TrophyNational Basketball Centre, Manchester[65]
3 November 202238–82021 Rugby League World Cup Group StageCopper Box, London3,033[66]
6 November 2022104–123,268[67]
9 November 2022121–03,847[68]
13 November 2022125–222021 Rugby League World Cup Semi FinalEnglish Institute of Sport, Sheffield1,318[69]
18 November 202228–242021 Rugby League World Cup finalManchester Central, Manchester4,526[70]
5 November 202334–43Two match series friendly: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy[71] Leeds Arena, Leeds2,373[72]
25 November 202334–18Palais des Sports, Marseille[73]
26 October 202466–33Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty TrophyRobin Park Arena, Wigan[74]
21 November 202458–28FriendlyNantes[75]
23 November 202428–32Friendly: Fassolette-Kielty TrophySaint-Lô~2,000[76]

Records and statistics

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

5 Titles

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Sculthorpe backs England wheelchair team . 11 August 2022 . LoveRugbyLeague . 12 October 2010.
  2. News: Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final: Tom Halliwell late try secures trophy for England . 18 November 2022 . BBC . 18 November 2022.
  3. Web site: 2013 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup – Wales Rugby League (WRL) . Wales Rugby League . 11 August 2022.
  4. Web site: 2017 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup – Wales Rugby League (WRL) . Wales Rugby League . 11 August 2022.
  5. Web site: Match Report: European Wheelchair Championship Final . European Rugby League . 3 November 2022.
  6. Web site: Major stages and big events . Rugby XIII Fauteuil . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081113052854/http://www.rugby13fauteuil.fr/en/historique.htm . 13 November 2008.
  7. Web site: Bradford Bulls Wheelchair Rugby . Bradford Bulls Foundation . 11 August 2022.
  8. Web site: England rugby league strikes Betfred deal . www.sportindustry.biz . 11 August 2022 . 16 June 2022.
  9. Web site: 2022-11-02. 'It left me in awe': my hands-on initiation to wheelchair rugby league. Aaron. Bower. 2022-11-06. the Guardian.
  10. Web site: Association . The Football . England Wheelchair Rugby League Visit St. George’s Park . 2024-03-07 . www.thefa.com . en.
  11. https://www.intrl.sport/article/324/french-star-bourson-included-in-first-wheelchair-super-league-dream-team--
  12. Web site: Rugby League pioneers recognised in New Year’s Honours . Rugby Football League . 31 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140209160845/http://therfl.co.uk/news/article/29307/rugby-league-pioneers-recognised-in . 9 February 2014.
  13. Web site: England Wheelchair team win World Cup . England Rugby League . https://web.archive.org/web/20081227200338/http://englandrl.co.uk/englandrl.php?id=523 . 27 December 2008.
  14. Web site: Wheelchair Rugby League tournament . 9 November 2008 . usurped. https://web.archive.org/web/20081112101736/http://www.rlwc08.com/news/news/archive/2008/11/09/wheelchair-rugby-league-tournament.aspx . 12 November 2008.
  15. Web site: England Wheelchair team beat Australia in World Cup. 7 November 2008 . RLEF . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091228101806/http://www.rlef.eu.com/news.php?id=955 . 28 December 2009.
  16. Web site: England Wheelchair Rugby League win second World Cup match. 10 November 2008 . RLEF . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091228102724/http://www.rlef.eu.com/news.php?id=965 . 28 December 2009.
  17. Web site: England Wheelchair Tag RL squad named . Rugby Football League . 3 August 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120512015858/http://therfl.co.uk/news/article/14895 . 12 May 2012.
  18. Web site: England Wheelchair team reach World Cup Final . 12 November 2008 . RLEF . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091228102423/http://www.rlef.eu.com/news.php?id=970 . 28 December 2009.
  19. Web site: England Wheelchair team reach World Cup Final . 14 November 2008 . RLEF . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091228102817/http://www.rlef.eu.com/news.php?id=974 . 28 December 2009.
  20. Web site: Story of the 2008 World Cup. RLWC2001. 13 October 2022. 4 November 2022.
  21. Web site: England Wheelchair Rugby League win the World Cup. 17 November 2008. 5 November 2022. Sport Focus. https://web.archive.org/web/20221017185508/http://www.sportfocus.com/newspub/story.cfm?ID=31164. 17 October 2022.
  22. Web site: RFL Annual Report 2009 . 15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101128204936/http://therfl.co.uk/~rflmedia/docs/RFL%202009%20Annual%20Report.pdf . 28 November 2010.
  23. Web site: France 44–34 England . European Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  24. Web site: England 34–32 France . European Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  25. Web site: Wheelchair Fixtures: 2012 . Wales Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  26. Web site: Ireland 12–34 England . European Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  27. Web site: England 50–0 Scotland . European Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  28. Web site: England 34–0 Wales . European Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  29. Web site: ENG Wheelchair 34v0 WAL Wheelchair . Wales Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  30. Web site: Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup draw is made . Rugby Football League . 23 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130501005443/http://therfl.co.uk/news/article/27569/wheelchair-rugby-league-world-cup . 1 May 2013.
  31. Web site: International Rugby League Came to Medway . Medway Dragons . 3 September 2012 . 4 April 2024.
  32. Web site: Wheelchair World Cup . rugbyleague.wales . 17 October 2022.
  33. Web site: England 20–28 France . European Rugby League . 25 November 2023.
  34. Web site: England 86–8 Ireland . European Rugby League . 25 November 2023.
  35. Web site: Wales 6–50 England . European Rugby League . 25 November 2023.
  36. Web site: England 81–10 Australia . European Rugby League . 25 November 2023.
  37. Web site: Match Report: Wheelchair World Cup final . European Rugby League . 4 November 2022.
  38. Web site: France 64–46 England . European Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  39. Web site: Pari réussi pour l'Equipe de France XIII Fauteuil . fr . FFRXIII . 15 May 2014 . 21 March 2024.
  40. Web site: Wheelchair Fixtures: 2014 . Wales Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  41. Web site: ENG Wheelchair 104v14 SCOT Wheelchair . Scotland Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  42. Web site: ENG Wheelchair 80–6 WAL Wheelchair . Wales Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  43. Web site: England 56–26 France . European Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  44. Web site: England 24–26 France . European Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  45. Web site: England 56–8 Wales . European Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  46. Web site: Ireland 16–66 England . European Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  47. Web site: Scotland 0–102 England . European Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  48. Web site: Wheelchair Fixtures: 2016 . Wales Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  49. Web site: England claim Wheelchair 4 Nations title . Scotland Rugby League . 27 September 2016 . 5 November 2022.
  50. Web site: ENG Wheelchair 56–14 WAL Wheelchair . Wales Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  51. Web site: ENG Wheelchair 52–26 WAL Wheelchair . Wales Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  52. Web site: England 31–25 France . European Rugby League . 4 November 2022.
  53. Web site: L'équipe de France Rugby XIII Fauteuil face à l'Angleterre ce soir! La feuille de match! . fr . FFRXIII . 21 June 2019 . 9 April 2024.
  54. Web site: France 50–46 England . European Rugby League . 4 November 2022.
  55. Web site: Wheelchair Fixtures: 2019 . Wales Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  56. Web site: WAL Wheelchair 24–48 ENG Wheelchair . Wales Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  57. Web site: ENG Wheelchair 136v1 SCOT Wheelchair . Scotland Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  58. Web site: WAL Wheelchair 40–54 ENG Wheelchair . Wales Rugby League . 5 November 2022.
  59. Web site: Wheelaroos ready to rock Wollongong . Dragons.com.au . 22 October 2019 . 8 March 2024.
  60. Web site: England Wheelchair win Ashes series against Australia . Asia Pacific Rugby League . 24 October 2019 . 8 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191026002335/https://asiapacificrl.com/2019/10/24/england-wheelchair-win-ashes-series-against-australia/ . 26 October 2019.
  61. Web site: England 102–22 Wales . European Rugby League . 4 November 2022.
  62. Web site: England's wheelchair rugby league team seek to right wrongs against France in Sunday's international . Sky Sports . 18 June 2022 . 5 November 2022.
  63. Web site: England 24–49 France . European Rugby League . 4 November 2022.
  64. Web site: England 26–39 France . European Rugby League . 4 November 2022.
  65. Web site: England 62–48 France . European Rugby League . 3 November 2022.
  66. Web site: England 38–8 Australia . European Rugby League . 3 November 2022.
  67. Web site: England Wheelchair 104-12 Spain Wheelchair . RLWC2021 . 6 November 2022.
  68. Web site: England Wheelchair 121-0 Ireland Wheelchair . RLWC2021 . 6 November 2022.
  69. Web site: England Wheelchair 125–22 Wales Wheelchair. RLWC2021 . 13 November 2022 . 13 November 2022.
  70. Web site: England beat France to win Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup - reaction . 2022-11-18 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  71. Web site: Para Rugby XIII : double confrontation France vs Angleterre en novembre . FFRXIII . fr . 20 October 2023 . 31 October 2024.
  72. News: World champions England defeated by France . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-11-13.
  73. Web site: France 18–34 England . European Rugby League . 4 December 2023.
  74. Web site: England thump France in wheelchair international . BBC Sport . 26 October 2024 . 26 October 2024.
  75. Web site: England 58–28 Spain . European Rugby League . 27 November 2023.
  76. Web site: France Wheelchair defeat England in Fassolette-Kielty Trophy . Rugby Football League . 23 November 2024 . 27 November 2024.