Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026 Squads

Eight nations will play 20 matches in one arena at the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026, which starts at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong on 30 October.

Every team has now named its squad, from defending champions England to first-timers New Zealand, so we know exactly who is heading to the court.

All eight Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026 squads are confirmed, with England captained by Lewis King and hosts Australia led by Bayley McKenna.

England and France have won every World Cup title so far, with two each, and both squads are packed with big-game experience.

Wales have picked two father-and-son pairs, while Scotland and Ireland both have women in their mixed squads.

Below, you’ll find every player in all eight squads, with each team’s coach, captain, key names and group fixtures.

England Wheelchair Rugby League Squad

England are the defending champions and the world’s top-ranked team. Tom Coyd MBE is head coach, and Lewis King is captain.

The 10 players come from four clubs: London Roosters, Halifax Panthers, Leeds Rhinos and Sheffield Eagles.

Tom Halliwell, who captained England to the 2021 title, missed out. Jack Brown scored six tries in Halifax’s Super League Grand Final win.

England play Wales on 30 October, the USA on 3 November and Ireland on 6 November.

• Mason Billington (London Roosters)
• Jack Brown (Halifax Panthers)
• Nathan Collins (Leeds Rhinos)
• Joe Coyd (London Roosters)
• Luis Domingos (Sheffield Eagles)
• Rob Hawkins (Halifax Panthers)
• Chris Haynes (Sheffield Eagles)
• Lewis King (London Roosters, captain)
• Tristan Norfolk (Leeds Rhinos)
• Finlay O’Neill (Halifax Panthers)

France Wheelchair Rugby League Squad

France won back-to-back World Cups in 2013 and 2017, then lost the 2021 final to England by 28-24 in a close game.

Cyril Torres is head coach, and he has named a 12-player squad.

There are two Clausells, Gilles and Nicolas, and two Hivernats, Jonathan and Léo, in the group.

France are in Group B. They play Scotland on 31 October, New Zealand on 3 November and Australia on 6 November.

• Jérémy Bourson
• Gilles Clausells
• Nicolas Clausells
• Dany Denuwelaere
• Damien Doré
• Guillaume Dubruel
• Thomas Duhalde
• Jorge Gelade Panzo
• Florian Guttadoro
• Jonathan Hivernat
• Léo Hivernat
• Adrien Zittel

Australia Wheelaroos Squad

Brett Clark coaches the Wheelaroos, and Bayley McKenna captains a 10-player squad on home soil.

Clark says the goal is simple: Australia want to be the best team in the world, and this home World Cup is their chance.

The Wheelaroos were runners-up at the first World Cup in 2008, and they reached the semi-finals in 2021.

They play New Zealand on 31 October, Scotland on 3 November and France on 6 November, all in Wollongong.

• Bayley McKenna (captain)
• Daniel Anstey
• Peter Arbuckle
• Cory Cannane
• Diab Karim
• Liam Luff
• Toby Popple
• Stephan Rochecouste
• Zac Schumacher
• Adam Tannock

Wales Wheelchair Rugby League Squad

Alan Caron, who played for Wales at the last three World Cups, coaches a 12-player squad.

Martin and Matthew Turner, and Gareth and Sid Ramsey, are the first fathers and sons to play for Wales at a Wheelchair World Cup.

Jodie Boyd-Ward could become the first wheelchair player to reach 50 international caps, after playing for England, Ireland and Wales.

Wales play England on 30 October, Ireland on 3 November and the USA on 6 November.

• John Berriman (York)
• Jodie Boyd-Ward (Leeds Rhinos)
• Jonathan Gill (North Wales Crusaders)
• Andrew Higgins (Midlands Hurricanes)
• Fionn McCabe (North Wales Crusaders)
• Gareth Ramsey (Sheffield Eagles)
• Sid Ramsey (Sheffield Eagles)
• Lee Sargent (Midlands Hurricanes)
• Martin Turner (North Wales Crusaders)
• Matthew Turner (Wigan Warriors)
• Mark Williams (Wigan Warriors)
• Stuart Williams (Edinburgh Giants)

New Zealand Wheel Kiwis Squad

New Zealand are playing at their first Wheelchair World Cup. Edie George is head coach, Jayson Hooker is captain and Kauri Murray is vice-captain.

Five of the 10 players are debutants: Jack Brown, Hayden Delves, Joshua Hirini-Barclay, Pele Sulusi and Mitch Stone.

The Wheel Kiwis played their first Tests against Australia in 2024, and five players from that side are back.

They play Australia on 31 October, France on 3 November and Scotland on 6 November.

• 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

Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League Squad

Martyn Gill coaches Scotland, who won one of the last two places at the World Cup through a European application process.

His 12-player squad includes two women, Olivia Fulton and Sarah Devlin, as wheelchair rugby league allows mixed teams.

James Simpson-Hill, who has an MBE, brings plenty of international experience to the group.

Scotland are in Group B. 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

Ireland Wheelchair Rugby League Squad

Ireland also qualified through the European application process, and Philip Roberts is listed as their coach.

They have named an 11-player squad, including Melanie Griffith, one of the women playing at this World Cup.

Ireland play in the very first match of the tournament, against the USA on Friday 30 October at 1pm local time in Wollongong.

They then face Wales on 3 November and England on 6 November in Group A.

• Toby Burton Carter
• Joseph Calcott
• Melanie Griffith
• Cian Horgan
• Peter Johnston
• Jack Mangan
• Thomas Martin
• James McCarthy
• Maurice Noonan
• Oran Spain
• Bledar Suxha

USA Wheelhawks Squad

The USA were added to the World Cup in 2025 to represent the Americas, alongside New Zealand for the Asia-Pacific.

Geoff Mason coaches the Wheelhawks, and he has named a 12-player squad.

They open the tournament against Ireland on 30 October, then play England on 3 November and Wales on 6 November.

See every squad as it was announced on NRL.com, and the full fixture list in our Wheelchair World Cup guide.

• Lavern Anderson Jr
• William “Mo” Fox
• Antoine Gray
• Brent Hawkins
• Austin “Mack” Johnson
• William “Bill” Johnstone
• Andy Kingsley
• Jabrier Lee
• Jesse Lind
• James Ross
• Frederick Smith III
• Eric Wooten

Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026 Squads: FAQ

Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about the wheelchair squads.

Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.

For every player, see the squad lists above.

Who is in England’s wheelchair World Cup squad?

England have named 10 players.

Lewis King is captain.

Tom Coyd MBE is head coach.

Who is the Wheelaroos captain?

Bayley McKenna captains Australia.

Brett Clark is head coach.

Australia are the hosts.

How many players are in a wheelchair rugby league squad?

Squads at this World Cup have 10 to 12 players.

Five players are on the court at a time.

Men and women can play together.

Is this New Zealand’s first Wheelchair World Cup?

Yes. It’s the Wheel Kiwis’ first World Cup.

Jayson Hooker is captain.

They play Australia first, on 31 October.

Conclusion

All eight Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026 squads are set, and the tournament starts in Wollongong on 30 October.

England and France start as favourites, while hosts Australia hope a home crowd can carry them to a first title.

See who leads every men’s, women’s and wheelchair team in our Rugby League World Cup 2026 captains guide.

Want our World Cup updates first? Add RLWC 2026 Guide as a preferred source on Google.