Skip to content Joe Coyd crossed four times as England retained their Wheelchair World Cup crown in a breathless 50-38 triumph over France in Wollongong.
The two European heavyweights entered the Wheelchair World Cup final knowing they lead the sport by a distance. Four years ago in Manchester, England edged the French by just four points before 5,000 roaring supporters. Now, Tom Coyd’s side have repeated the feat across the globe on Australian soil.
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If you love high-stakes wheelchair rugby league, this final delivered everything you could want. Both teams pushed each other to physical exhaustion across eighty frantic minutes. Yet England found the answers when the pressure reached its peak.
How England seized early Wheelchair World Cup control
England flew out of the blocks in Wollongong with sharp execution. Head coach Tom Coyd watched his side dictate the tempo right from the opening whistle. His brother, Joe Coyd, provided the early spark.
Joe Coyd carved through the French defensive line to help push England into a quick 10-0 lead. The English attack moved the ball with speed, stretching the French across the court. Every English pass found its mark during those blistering opening minutes.
That explosive start put France on the back foot immediately. The reigning champions looked calm and organized in possession. Everything pointed toward a dominant afternoon for the English squad.
France, however, refused to surrender early. They absorbed the initial shock and regrouped behind their veteran leaders. Then, the French attack ignited.
France strike back before Joe Coyd answers
France produced a devastating response that briefly took the final away from England. In a relentless spell of attacking rugby, the French ran in four unanswered tries. That scoring burst flipped England’s 10-0 lead into a 22-10 French advantage.
Dany Denuwelaere led the French resurgence with ruthless speed and precision. England struggled to contain his direct running through the middle. France held all the momentum, punishing every English turnover with points.
England desperately needed an answer before the interval, and Joe Coyd delivered. He stepped through a tired French defence to claim his second try of the match. That score halted the French surge and restored English confidence.
Moments later, Coyd completed his first-half hat-trick with another sharp finish. His rapid double capped an impressive English comeback before the break. England headed into the sheds holding a six-point cushion.
Rob Hawkins and Jack Brown seal Wheelchair World Cup glory
The second half began at the same relentless pace. Denuwelaere struck first for France, scoring a magnificent try that levelled the match. Could France finally overturn their Manchester heartache and push England aside?
England responded with the composure of experienced champions. Rob Hawkins, widely regarded as the world’s best player, stepped up to restore the English lead. His decisive effort put England back in control of the contest.
Joe Coyd then crossed for his fourth try of the day, opening up daylight between the teams. But France refused to fade quietly in Wollongong. Denuwelaere responded with his second try of the half, cutting England’s lead to just four points.
With the final hanging on a knife-edge, Jack Brown stepped into the spotlight. Brown struck with back-to-back tries in rapid succession. Those two scores established a decisive three-possession lead and broke French spirits.
Denuwelaere completed his hat-trick in the dying minutes as the French standout. His effort proved to be mere consolation, however. England calmly closed out the final minutes to retain the Wheelchair World Cup.
Wollongong triumph confirms English dominance over France
Defending their Wheelchair World Cup title on Australian territory cements England’s position at the summit of wheelchair rugby league. Back-to-back world titles prove that their Manchester victory four years ago was no fluke. England and France remain the benchmark nations, operating on a level other countries cannot match.
Tom Coyd deserves immense praise for guiding his players through multiple crisis points in the game. When France stormed to a 12-point lead, England stayed disciplined. When Denuwelaere threatened another comeback, England’s star players produced decisive moments.
For France, this defeat delivers familiar heartbreak. They pushed England to the brink in Manchester and did so again in Wollongong. Denuwelaere played an exceptional match, but England had too many scoring options across the court.
England now travel home as back-to-back world champions, with the next international wheelchair rugby league tests scheduled for autumn 2027.
Source: Guardian Sport
