England retain wheelchair Rugby League World Cup with 50-38 win over France in Wollongong

England retained the wheelchair Rugby League World Cup by beating France 50-38 in the final in Wollongong on 13 November 2026. Joe Coyd scored four tries for the winners.

England successfully completed their defence of the title, with Tom Coyd’s side victorious once again on Australian soil. The match pitched together the two nations the report described as the best in the wheelchair discipline, a pairing that seemed likely given their superiority over other teams. Four years earlier England had beaten France by four points in Manchester in front of 5,000 fans.

Joe Coyd helped England into an early 10-0 lead before France responded with four unanswered tries to move 22-10 ahead. By half-time Coyd had completed a hat-trick, putting the defending champions into a six-point lead at the interval.

Dany Denuwelaere’s magnificent try levelled the game in the second half, and England regained the lead through the world’s best player, Rob Hawkins. Coyd’s fourth try extended England’s advantage, and when Denuwelaere scored again the margin was reduced to four.

Two successive tries from Jack Brown opened a crucial three-score gap as the contest moved into its closing stages. Denuwelaere completed his hat-trick late on, but that score proved mere consolation.

England successfully closed out the final minutes to ensure they would retain the title. Aaron Bower’s full report to follow.