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How Hawkins overcame illness to star for England
Rob Hawkins has become a leading player for England’s wheelchair rugby league team after taking up the sport by chance while recovering from chronic fatigue syndrome. England face Australia in the World Cup semi-finals, seeking to defend their title and become the first nation to win the competition three times.
The 25-year-old Halifax Panthers wing was bedbound for 18 months and missed two years of school, but has since won the International Wheelchair Player of the Year award in 2024 and 2025. He has scored 14 World Cup tries, including a hat-trick against Ireland, as England topped Pool A with wins over Wales, the USA and Ireland; Australia reached the semi-final after a loss to France.
In short
- Hawkins turned an accidental introduction to wheelchair rugby league into an international career.
- He has scored 14 tries for England at this World Cup.
- England meet Australia in the semi-finals as they pursue a third title.
Explained simply
Wheelchair rugby league is a version of rugby league played in sports wheelchairs, with teams aiming to score tries by carrying the ball over the opposition’s line. England’s team won the last two World Cups and is seeking a third title; Australia is one of its main rivals.
Rob Hawkins plays on the wing for Halifax Panthers and England. He took up the sport while recovering from chronic fatigue syndrome, an illness that left him bedbound for 18 months and kept him away from school for two years. His rise to international recognition has made him one of England’s leading players.
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