Wikipedia

Australia national wheelchair rugby league team

The Australia national wheelchair rugby league team represent Australia in wheelchair rugby league. The team have played at all four World Cup tournaments and were finalists in the inaugural competition in 2008.

Australia
Team information
NicknameWheelaroos
RegionAsia-Pacific
IRL ranking 3 Steady (30 June 2024)[1]
Team results
First international
Biggest win
Biggest defeat
World Cup
Appearances4 (first time in 2008)
Best result2nd, 2008

History

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Wheelchair rugby league was introduced to Australia in 2004 when a French team travelled to Sydney, Australia. Four matches were played with each side winning twice as the Australians won the series on points difference. In 2006, wheelchair rugby league was given official recognition by the Rugby League International Federation.[2]

In 2008, Australia was one of four teams that competed in the first Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup. It took place in Sydney, as part of the Festival of World Cups, which was held as a build-up event for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Australia defeated France 22–20 in the semi-final before losing 44–12 to England in the final.[3][4] At the 2013 World Cup, Australia won their opening match 148–0 against Scotland.[5] They lost to England in the semi-finals and finished fourth in the tournament after a narrow 16–14 defeat to Wales in the third-place play-off match.[6][7]

The 2017 World Cup was intended to be part of the Festival of World Cups which was hosted by Australia in Sydney, but in late 2016 the wheelchair tournament was moved to France.[8][9] To enable the Australian team to take part they received A$50,000 from the NRL towards their transport costs.[10] Australia reached the semi-finals but were again defeated by England.[11] Australia finished their campaign with a 58–45 win over Italy in the third-place play-off.[12] In 2019, Australia hosted an England tour in which the two teams played a two-match Ashes Test series.[13] A Wheelaroo Tour[a] to England in October 2020 was planned but did not take place.[14] At the 2021 World Cup, Australia reached the semi-finals where they lost 84–40 to France.[15] In August 2023, it was announced that Australia were to play the United States in a three-match series in Las Vegas in 2024, however, the series was cancelled in November 2023.[16][17] A proposed tour to Australia by France was also cancelled.[18] In November 2024, Australia played a two-match series against New Zealand in Auckland. Australia achieved a 2–0 series win over the Wheel Kiwis who were making their international début.[19]

Competitive record

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World Cup Record
Year Finish
  2008 Runners-up
  2013 4th place
  2017 3rd place
  2021 Semi-finalist

Results

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Date Opponent Score Competition Venue Attendance Ref.
7 November 2008   England 26–34 2008 World Cup Group stage Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen [20][21]
10 November 2008   France 14–44 Betts Stadium, Sydney [3]
12 November 2008 Barbarians[b] 88–0 Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen [3]
14 November 2008   France 22–20 2008 World Cup Semi-final Whitlam Centre, Sydney [3]
17 November 2008   England 12–44 2008 World Cup Final Betts Stadium, Sydney [22][23]
29 June 2013   France 12–102 2013 World Cup warm-up match Centre Sportif du Mont-Valérien, Nanterre [24][25]
3 July 2013   Scotland 148–0 2013 World Cup Group stage Medway Park, Gillingham [5][26]
6 July 2013   Wales 16–25 [26][27]
9 July 2013   France 6–72 [26][28]
11 July 2013   England 10–81 2013 World Cup Semi-final [6][26]
13 July 2013   Wales 14–16 2013 World Cup 3rd/4th play-off [7][26]
18 July 2017   France 16–70 2017 World Cup warm-up match Gymnase L'Olympie, Limoux [29]
20 July 2017   Wales 72–24 2017 World Cup Group stage Halle aux Sport, Carcassonne [26]
22 July 2017   France 22–102 Complexe La Rijole, Pamiers [26]
24 July 2017   England 26–80 Gymnase du Lac, Saint-Jory [26]
25 July 2017   Spain 49–40 2017 World Cup Group play-offs Gymnase du Cosec, Albi [26]
26 July 2017   England 24–76 2017 World Cup Semi-final Gymnase Compans Cafferlli, Toulouse [26]
27 July 2017   Italy 58–45 2017 World Cup 3rd/4th play-off Gymnase du Cosec, St-Orens [26]
21 October 2019   England 28–84 Ashes Test series Whitlam Leisure Centre, Sydney [13][30]
23 October 2019   England 50–58 University of Wollongong, Wollongong [13][30]
26 October 2022   British Army ?–? 2021 World Cup warm-up matches Medway Park, Gillingham [31]
29 October 2022   Wales 86–38 Cardiff Met University Cyncoed Campus, Cardiff [32]
31 October 2022   Scotland 129–1 Medway Park, Gillingham [33]
3 November 2022   England 8–38 2021 World Cup Group Stage Copper Box, London 3,033 [34]
6 November 2022   Ireland 76–18 3,268 [35][36]
9 November 2022   Spain 52–32 3,847 [37][38]
13 November 2022   France 40–84 2021 World Cup Semi-final English Institute of Sport, Sheffield 1,318 [15]
1 November 2024   New Zealand 98–4 Two match series friendly Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland [39]
4 November 2024   New Zealand 110–8 [19]

Records and statistics

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IRL Wheelchair World Rankings
Official rankings as of June 2024
Rank Change Team Pts %
1     England 100
2     France 89
3     Australia 61
4   1   Ireland 49
5   1   Wales 47
6     Scotland 38
7   1   United States 27
8   1   Spain 23
9     Italy 0
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT
  • Biggest win: 148–0 v. Scotland (3 July 2013)
  • Biggest defeat: 12–102 v. France (29 June 2013)

Notes

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  1. ^ the wheelchair rugby league equivalent of a Kangaroo Tour
  2. ^ The Barbarians/Pacific Islands were a replacement team due to New Zealand withdrawing from the 2008 World Cup[20]

References

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  1. ^ "IRL World Rankings: Wheelchair". International Rugby League. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Major stages and big events". Rugby XIII Fauteuil. Archived from the original on 13 November 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d "Results: 2008". RLEF. Archived from the original on 24 July 2009.
  4. ^ "Story of the Cup: The record breakers and history makers". NRL.com. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Australia 148–0 Scotland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  6. ^ a b "England 81–10 Australia". European Rugby League. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Australia 14–16 Wales". European Rugby League. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Australia to host Festival of World Cups in 2017". Asia Pacific Rugby League. 21 November 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  9. ^ "USA And Canada To Host 2025 World Cup". NSW Rugby League. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Australian squad named for Wheelchair World Cup". Asia Pacific Rugby League. 14 March 2017. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  11. ^ "England reach Wheelchair RL World Cup Final". RFL. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Brett Henman wins a Rugby League Wheelchair World Cup bronze medal | Videos". Western Advocate. 28 July 2017. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017.
  13. ^ a b c "England Wheelchair win Ashes series against Australia". Asia Pacific Rugby League. 24 October 2019. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Golden Boot to be presented at first UK Wheelchair Rugby League Awards ceremony". RFL. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  15. ^ a b "France 84–40 Australia". European Rugby League. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  16. ^ "USA Wheelchair to host Wales and Australia in 2024". International Rugby league. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  17. ^ "USA Wheelchair RL cancels Las Vegas Games". NRL Wheelchair. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Wheel Kiwis to make international debut against Australia". International Rugby League. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Wheelaroos train with rivals ahead of Test as game grows in NZ". NRL. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Wheelchair Rugby League tournament". 9 November 2008. Archived from the original on 12 November 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. ^ "England Wheelchair team beat Australia in World Cup". RLEF. 7 November 2008. Archived from the original on 28 December 2009.
  22. ^ "Story of the 2008 World Cup". RLWC2001. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  23. ^ "England Wheelchair Rugby League win the World Cup". Sport Focus. 17 November 2008. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  24. ^ "Victoire "entachée" de l'EDF XIII Fauteuil". FFRXIII (in French). 1 July 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Programme chargé pour l'EDF de XIII Fauteuil". FFRXIII (in French). 27 June 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Wheelchair World Cup". rugbyleague.wales. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Wales 25–16 Australia". European Rugby League. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  28. ^ "France 72–6 Australia". European Rugby League. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  29. ^ "Des français contre les Bleus" [French against Les Bleus]. FFRXIII (in French). 19 July 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  30. ^ a b "Wheelaroos ready to rock Wollongong". Dragons.com.au. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  31. ^ "Wheelarros take on Wales & Scotland in World Ranking clashes". European Rugby League. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  32. ^ "Wales 38–86 Australia". European Rugby League. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  33. ^ "Australia 129–1 Scotland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  34. ^ "England 38–8 Australia". European Rugby League. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  35. ^ "Australia 76–18 Ireland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  36. ^ "Rugby League World Cup: England star Seb Bechara on wheelchair game 'trending on Twitter'". BBC Sport. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  37. ^ "Australia 52–32 Spain". European Rugby League. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  38. ^ "England turn attention to Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup knockout stage". The Independent. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  39. ^ "McKenna stars as Wheelaroos start World Cup campaign with big win". NRL. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
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