England thrash Wales to begin World Cup defence
England opened their defence of the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup with a 98-18 win over Wales in Wollongong. The two-time champions scored 18 tries to Wales’ three, though England’s Rob Hawkins said the team had made errors and was not yet playing to its standards.
Wales stayed close during the opening 20 minutes, with tries from Stuart Williams and Sid Ramsey making it 18-12. England then scored 28 unanswered points before half-time and added 10 more tries in the second half; Hawkins scored 11 tries and kicked four conversions for 52 points, while Nathan Collins scored four tries. In the other Group A match, Ireland beat the United States 110-10, a national international points record; England next play the US on 3 November.
In short
- England began their title defence with a 98-18 win over Wales.
- Rob Hawkins scored 52 points, including 11 tries.
- Ireland set a national record with a 110-10 victory over the US.
Explained simply
Wheelchair rugby league is a version of rugby league played by athletes using sports wheelchairs. Teams score by carrying the ball across the opponents’ try line, and matches are played in two halves. The World Cup brings together national teams to compete for the sport’s main international title.
England have won the tournament twice and entered this edition as defending champions. Wales, Ireland and the United States are also in Group A, where results help decide which teams progress to the next stage. England’s next group match is against the United States.