Australia vs New Zealand Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026
New Zealand only played their first wheelchair rugby league Test in 2024, and now they face hosts Australia at their first World Cup.
It’s the Trans-Tasman headline act on day two of the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026 in Wollongong.
Australia vs New Zealand is on Saturday 31 October 2026 at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, kicking off at 5:30pm local time (7:30pm NZ, 6:30am UK).
Australia won both Tests between the sides in 2024, by 98-4 and 110-8, but the Wheel Kiwis have grown fast since then.
Bayley McKenna captains the Wheelaroos on home soil, while Jayson Hooker leads a New Zealand squad with five debutants.
Below, you’ll find kick-off times in Australia, NZ and the UK, how to watch, both squads, the head to head and our prediction.
Quick Answer: Australia vs New Zealand Wheelchair
- Date: Saturday 31 October 2026
- Kick-off: 5:30pm Wollongong, 7:30pm NZ, 6:30am UK
- Venue: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
- Group: Group B, Wheelchair World Cup
- Head to head: Australia 2 wins, New Zealand 0
- NZ TV: Sky Sport
Australia vs New Zealand Kick-Off Time
Australia vs New Zealand kicks off at 5:30pm in Wollongong on Saturday 31 October.
| Location | Kick-off time |
|---|---|
| Wollongong and Sydney | 5:30pm, Sat 31 Oct |
| Brisbane | 4:30pm, Sat 31 Oct |
| New Zealand | 7:30pm, Sat 31 Oct |
| UK | 6:30am, Sat 31 Oct |
It’s the second game of the day in Group B, after France play Scotland at 3pm local time in the same arena.
For fans in New Zealand, it’s a prime-time 7:30pm start on Saturday night, and it’s an early 6:30am start in the UK.
For every other wheelchair game and time, see our Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide.
Where to Watch Australia vs New Zealand Wheelchair
In the UK and Ireland, Premier Sports is showing every match of all three World Cup tournaments, including the wheelchair event.
In Australia, the Seven Network and 7plus hold the Rugby League World Cup 2026 rights, and Sky Sport has the rights in New Zealand.
Want to be there? Tickets for every wheelchair session at the WIN Entertainment Centre are sold through Ticketmaster, the official seller.
The match is indoors, so the weather won’t matter. Get there early to catch France vs Scotland in the same session.
Australia Wheelaroos Squad
Brett Clark has named a 10-player Wheelaroos squad, captained by Bayley McKenna.
Clark says Australia want to be the best team in the world, and a home World Cup is the perfect chance.
The Wheelaroos were runners-up in 2008 and semi-finalists in 2021. They pushed England hard in the 2025 Ashes, leading in both Tests before losing late.
Australia’s other group games are against Scotland on 3 November and France on 6 November.
- Bayley McKenna (captain)
- Daniel Anstey
- Peter Arbuckle
- Cory Cannane
- Diab Karim
- Liam Luff
- Toby Popple
- Stephan Rochecouste
- Zac Schumacher
- Adam Tannock
New Zealand Wheel Kiwis Squad
Edie George coaches the Wheel Kiwis, with Jayson Hooker as captain and Kauri Murray as vice-captain.
Five players are debutants: Jack Brown, Hayden Delves, Joshua Hirini-Barclay, Pele Sulusi and Mitch Stone.
Five players from New Zealand’s first Test side in 2024 are back, including Hooker, Murray and Nikia Fa’atau.
Hooker is Wheel Kiwi No.1, the first player in the programme’s history. George called this World Cup a huge honour for the group.
- Jayson Hooker (captain)
- Kauri Murray (vice-captain)
- Jack Brown
- Ryan Charles
- Hayden Delves
- Nikia Fa’atau
- Joshua Hirini-Barclay
- Jamie Tapp
- Pele Sulusi
- Mitch Stone
Australia vs New Zealand Head to Head
Australia and New Zealand have met twice in wheelchair rugby league, both in Auckland in 2024.
| Date | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 2024 | Auckland | New Zealand 8-110 Australia |
| 1 Nov 2024 | Auckland | New Zealand 4-98 Australia |
Those were New Zealand’s first-ever Tests, so the gap was always going to be big.
Since then, the Wheel Kiwis have played in Australia’s national wheelchair championship. In July 2026, they beat Victoria 44-0 and the Affiliated States 28-0.
This will be the first time the two nations have met at a World Cup, and the first meeting on Australian soil.
Australia vs New Zealand Prediction
Australia are strong favourites. They have home advantage, a settled squad and two big wins over New Zealand already.
New Zealand will be more competitive than in 2024, but they are still new to Test wheelchair rugby league.
Our prediction: Australia to win by more than 40 points, with the Wheel Kiwis scoring more tries than in 2024.
See every player at the tournament in our Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026 squads guide.
Australia vs New Zealand Wheelchair: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about Australia vs New Zealand.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For more detail, see the sections above.
What time is Australia vs New Zealand wheelchair rugby league?
It kicks off at 5:30pm in Wollongong.
That’s 7:30pm in New Zealand.
It’s 6:30am in the UK.
Where is Australia vs New Zealand being played?
At the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.
Every wheelchair match is played there.
The date is Saturday 31 October 2026.
Have New Zealand ever beaten Australia at wheelchair rugby league?
No. Australia won both meetings in 2024.
The scores were 98-4 and 110-8.
Both games were in Auckland.
Who captains the Wheel Kiwis?
Jayson Hooker is captain.
Kauri Murray is vice-captain.
Edie George is head coach.
Conclusion
Australia vs New Zealand is on Saturday 31 October in Wollongong, at 5:30pm local time and 7:30pm in New Zealand.
The Wheelaroos start as big favourites after two huge wins in 2024, but the Wheel Kiwis arrive with more experience this time.
Either way, it’s a historic night, as New Zealand play their first-ever Wheelchair World Cup match.
Want our World Cup updates first? Add RLWC 2026 Guide as a preferred source on Google.
