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World Cup finalists England still feel short of best
England thrashed Australia 86-18 to reach their fifth consecutive Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final, where they will face France on Friday. They are aiming to defend the title they won in 2022, but the players say there is room to improve before a match-up that has often been close.
Rob Hawkins scored five tries and added five conversions for 30 points, including a spectacular chase to score near the dead-ball line. Despite England scoring 15 tries, Hawkins rated the performance only six or seven out of ten. Nathan Collins, preparing for his third final, said England must stick to their coach’s plan; the final kicks off at 08:45 GMT at Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre.
In short
- England beat Australia 86-18 in the semi-final.
- They will meet France in their fifth straight final.
- Hawkins scored five tries but says England can improve.
Explained simply
Wheelchair rugby league is a full-contact team sport played by athletes using adapted wheelchairs. Teams score tries by grounding the ball over the opposing side’s line, and matches combine wheelchair handling, passing and physical contact.
England and France are leading teams in the sport, and their meetings have often been closely contested. England won the 2022 World Cup and have reached five finals in a row, while France are seeking to stop them defending the title.
The tournament is organised by the International Rugby League and brings national teams together to compete for the world title. The final matters to both sides as a chance to establish themselves as champions, and to England as a test of their progress under pressure.