Australia vs Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026
Can the Wheelaroos keep their home World Cup on track? Australia face Scotland in their second Group B game in Wollongong.
Australia are ranked fourth in the world, and Scotland sixth, but the hosts have won both of their previous World Cup meetings by huge margins.
Australia vs Scotland is on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, kicking off at 1:30pm local time (2:30am UK).
Captain Bayley McKenna leads the home side, while Scotland’s mixed squad includes two women, Sarah Devlin and Olivia Fulton.
With only the top two teams from each group reaching the semi-finals, every point and every try counts in Wollongong.
Below, you’ll find kick-off times, how to watch, both full squads, the head to head, the semi-final picture and our prediction.
Quick Answer: Australia vs Scotland Wheelchair
- Date: Tuesday 3 November 2026
- Kick-off: 1:30pm Wollongong, 3:30pm NZ, 2:30am UK
- Venue: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
- Group: Group B, Wheelchair World Cup
- World rankings: Australia 4th, Scotland 6th
- UK TV: Premier Sports
Australia vs Scotland Kick-Off Time
Australia vs Scotland kicks off at 1:30pm in Wollongong on Tuesday 3 November, the second game of a four-match day.
| Location | Kick-off time |
|---|---|
| Wollongong and Sydney | 1:30pm, Tue 3 Nov |
| Brisbane | 12:30pm, Tue 3 Nov |
| New Zealand | 3:30pm, Tue 3 Nov |
| UK and Scotland | 2:30am, Tue 3 Nov |
It’s a very early start for Scottish fans at home, so many will catch the replay with breakfast.
France vs New Zealand opens the day at 11am, so you can watch both Group B games back to back.
Later that evening, England play the USA in Group A, rounding off a busy day at the arena.
What Channel Is Australia vs Scotland Wheelchair On?
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 wheelchair sessions at the WIN Entertainment Centre are sold through Ticketmaster, the official seller.
The arena is indoors and a short walk from Wollongong’s city centre and beach, so it’s an easy day out from Sydney.
Australia Wheelaroos Squad
Brett Clark coaches the Wheelaroos, and Bayley McKenna captains a 10-player squad on home soil.
Australia were runners-up at the first World Cup in 2008, also played in Sydney, and they reached the semi-finals in 2021.
Clark has said the goal is simple: Australia want to be the best team in the world, and this home World Cup is their chance.
Their group games are New Zealand on 31 October, 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
Scotland Wheelchair Squad
Martyn Gill coaches Scotland, who won one of the last two places at this World Cup through a European application process.
His 12-player squad includes two women, Sarah Devlin and Olivia Fulton, as wheelchair rugby league allows mixed teams.
James Simpson-Hill MBE brings plenty of international experience. Scotland finished sixth at the 2013 World Cup, their best result so far.
They play France on 31 October, Australia on 3 November and New Zealand on 6 November.
- John Clarke
- Calum Davidson
- Sarah Devlin
- Hamish Douglas
- Olivia Fulton
- David Hill
- Alex Howe
- Calum Japes
- Arran King
- Max Owen
- Mark Robertson
- James Simpson-Hill MBE
Australia vs Scotland Head to Head
Australia have won both World Cup meetings between the two nations, and both by more than 120 points.
| Date | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 2022 | World Cup group (2021 tournament) | Australia 129-1 Scotland |
| 3 Jul 2013 | World Cup group | Australia 148-0 Scotland |
Scotland have improved since then, beating Wales 64-52 in the 2024 Celtic Cup and running Wales close again this year.
But the Wheelaroos are a level above, with home support and a squad built for this tournament.
In round 1, Australia beat New Zealand 102-14, with Bayley McKenna scoring 44 points, while Scotland lost 114-0 to France.
What Does Australia vs Scotland Mean for the Semi-Finals?
The top two teams in Group B reach the semi-finals on 9 and 10 November. France, Australia, New Zealand and Scotland are in the group.
Australia need to beat Scotland to set up a likely decider against France on Friday 6 November.
For Scotland, a win would be one of the biggest upsets in Wheelchair World Cup history and blow the group wide open.
Teams that miss the semi-finals still play ranking games, so every nation plays five matches in Wollongong.
Australia vs Scotland Prediction
Australia are strong favourites. They’re ranked two places higher, and they won both previous World Cup meetings easily.
Expect the Wheelaroos to control possession and score freely, with the home crowd lifting them.
Scotland will want to keep the score respectable and grab a try or two, which would be a big win for their programme.
Our prediction: Australia by more than 50 points. See every player in our Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026 squads guide.
Australia vs Scotland Latest Match Updates
1 November 2026: Page published with kick-off times, TV, both squads, the head to head and our prediction.
Round 1 results: Australia beat New Zealand 102-14 and France beat Scotland 114-0 on Saturday 31 October.
Next update: any squad news, then the full-time score and a short match report.
New to the sport? Our wheelchair rugby league rules guide explains tags, fist-kicks and scoring in simple words.
For every time and result in the tournament, see the official IRL fixtures and results.
Australia vs Scotland Wheelchair: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about Australia vs Scotland.
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 Scotland wheelchair rugby league?
It kicks off at 1:30pm in Wollongong.
That’s 2:30am in the UK.
The date is Tuesday 3 November 2026.
Where is Australia vs Scotland being played?
At the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.
Every wheelchair match is played there.
It’s an indoor arena in New South Wales.
Have Scotland ever beaten Australia at wheelchair rugby league?
No. Australia won both recorded meetings.
They won 148-0 in 2013.
They won 129-1 in 2022.
How can I watch Australia vs Scotland in the UK?
Premier Sports is showing it live.
It has every World Cup match.
Kick-off is 2:30am UK time.
Conclusion
Australia vs Scotland is a Group B game in Wollongong on Tuesday 3 November, at 1:30pm local time and 2:30am in the UK.
The Wheelaroos won both previous World Cup meetings by more than 120 points, so they start as big favourites.
Scotland’s mixed squad will aim to compete hard and score. See the full draw in our Wheelchair World Cup guide.
Want our World Cup updates first? Add RLWC 2026 Guide as a preferred source on Google.
