England Wheelchair crowned Rugby League World Cup champions with victory over France
England Wheelchair have been crowned Rugby League World Cup champions with a 50-38 victory over France in Wollongong, Australia.
It means England are the back-to-back world champions following their 2022 victory on home soil.
Of the five Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup finals that have taken place, England have now won three, with France winning it in 2013 and 2017.
The Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final was brilliantly poised at 28-22 to England at half-time after a quick start and impressive end to the first 40 that saw Joe Coyd claim his hat-trick and Rob Hawkins and Jack Brown go over.
A strong middle spell from France meant they added four tries through Jeremy Bourson, Leo Hivernat, Damien Dore, and Florian Guttadoro but had a six-point deficit to make up.
While Dany Denuwelaere went over for a second half hat-trick for France, a fourth try for Coyd, Hawkins' second, and two more for Brown cemented England as the three-time champions of the world.
Just five minutes into the first half, it was Coyd who went over and sliced through twice in quick succession, once from close range and then once a brilliant break through as England got off to an impressive start for a 10-0 lead.
Despite England's fast start, it did not take long for France to hit back after a penalty. They sent the ball out wide for Bourson to go over in the corner. With the conversion, they trailed by just four points.
France then struck again after a brilliant pass gave Hivernat the space out wide to race away and score after 20 minutes of play. The conversion was missed and scores were level at 10-10.
The momentum was all with France and they made it count through their backline. Off the back of another penalty, this time given away by Coyd, they went out to Dore who had the space to score. They were then too quick once again on the right and Guttadoro was in. The conversion from Hivernat had France 16-10 up with 15 minutes remaining in the first half.
While France had been in control for over 20 minutes, Coyd made sure to get England back into the game and get his hat-trick in the process. Nathan Collins converted and it was a six-point game.
The Golden Boot winner Hawkins then created a golden moment with four minutes left on the clock with Brown following up with a contender for the try of the tournament as he went flying over and grounded Hawkins' kick with seconds remaining on the clock. With the conversion, England led 28-22 at half-time.
The frantic nature of the final continued early in the second half as a try from Denuwelaere was met by Hawkins' second to reinstate England's advantage.
The arm wrestle then ensued and with big collisions, and Coyd used exactly that to get his fourth, his massive strength moving the defender out the way. However, Denuwelaere then took his opportunity to show his brute force and with a powerful effort, France trailed by four with just over 15 minutes remaining.
It was truly a game of cat and mouse as, just as Denuwelaere had scored, Brown then came through on a brilliant line which defied the France defence.
France could see the clock ticking and with that, moved away from their game plan and gave away penalties, their frenzied approach handing England the advantage. That saw Brown step up once again and go in for his hat-trick and with Collins' conversion, England led 50-34 with 10 minutes to play.
France battled and tried to chance their arm and did get a consolation through Denuwelaere once again but besides that, England stayed solid defensively to be crowned world champions once again.
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13 of November 2026
