Wales national wheelchair rugby league team

Wales
Team information
Governing bodyWales Rugby League
RegionEurope
Head coachStephen Jones
IRL ranking5th
Team results
First international
World Cup
Appearances3 (first time in 2013)
Best result

The Wales national wheelchair rugby league team represents Wales in wheelchair rugby league. They have competed at the World Cup, the European Championships and several tournaments within the British Isles, such as the Celtic Cup and Four Nations competitions.

History

[edit]

In July 2012 Wales took part their first international competition, the Four Nations, a round-robin tournament between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.[2][3] The tournament was held as part of preparations for the world cup taking place the following year.[4] At the 2013 World Cup Wales progressed from the group stage with wins over Australia and Ireland and defeat to England. They lost their semi-final against France and finished third by defeating Australia in the third-place play-off.[5] Wales were unsuccessful at the 2014 Four Nations and the 2015 European Championships where they lost all their matches.[6][7]

In 2016 they joined Scotland and Ireland to compete in the Celtic Cup, which had been first contested the previous year[8] but became an annual three-team round-robin from 2016.[9] Wales won the tournament in 2016 and until 2023 were unbeaten in the Celtic Cup.[8][10]

At the 2017 World Cup Wales finished bottom of Group A with losses to Australia, England and France. They then lost to Italy in the group play-offs but defeated Spain to take fifth place.[11][12] At the 2021 World Cup Wales suffered their heaviest ever defeat by losing their opening match 6–154 to France.[13] However, victories over the United States and Scotland meant Ireland progressed to the knockout phase of the tournament where they lost to England in the semi-final.[14][15][16] Stuart Williams was one of the ten players named in the RLWC2021 Wheelchair Team of the Tournament.[17]

In February 2024, Wales travelled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to play a two-match series against the United States.[18] Wales won both matches.[19]

Squad

[edit]
Wales squad for 2021 World Cup
First team squad Coaching staff
  • Stephen Halsey – North Wales Crusaders
  • Scott Trigg-Turner – North Wales Crusaders
  • Gary Preece – Hereford Harriers
  • Mason Baker – North Wales Crusaders
  • Jodie Boyd-Ward – Leeds Rhinos
  • Andrew Higgins – Hereford Harriers
  • Stuart Williams – North Wales Crusaders
  • Lucie Roberts – North Wales Crusaders
  • Martin Lane – Hereford Harriers
  • Mark Williams – Wigan Warriors
  • Harry Jones – North Wales Crusaders
  • Alan Caron – Hereford Harriers

Head coach

  • Stephen Jones


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 3 October 2022
Source(s): [20]


Competitive record

[edit]

World Cup

[edit]
World Cup Record
Year Finish
Australia 2008 Did not enter
England 2013 3rd
France 2017 5th
England 2021 Semi-final

Celtic Cup

[edit]
Celtic Cup Record[Note 1]
Year Opponent Finish Ref.
Ireland Scotland
2015 — — —
2016 W W 1st [21]
2017 W W 1st [11]
2018 W W 1st [22]
2019 W W 1st [23]
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [24]
2021 W W 1st [25]
2022 W W 1st [26]
2023 D W 1st [27]
2024 L L 3rd [19]

Results and fixtures

[edit]
Date Opponent Score Competition Ref.
7 July 2012  Scotland 20–6 2012 Four Nations [28]
7 July 2012  Ireland 44–4 [29]
8 July 2012  England 0–34 [30]
3 July 2013  Ireland 104–6 2013 World Cup Group stage [5]
6 July 2013  Australia 25–16 [5]
9 July 2013  England 6–50 [5]
11 July 2013  France 30–71 2013 World Cup Semi-final [5]
13 July 2013  Australia 16–14 2013 World Cup 3rd-place play-off [5]
13 September 2014  Ireland 10–58 2014 Four Nations [6]
13 September 2014  Scotland 14–34 [31]
14 September 2014  England 6–80 [6]
9 August 2015  Ireland 29–46 Friendly [7]
24 September 2015  Scotland 25–26 2015 European Championship [7]
25 September 2015  England 8–56 [7]
25 September 2015  France 5–52 [7]
26 September 2015  Ireland 36–46 [7]
30 April 2016  Ireland 76–26 2016 Celtic Cup [21]
30 April 2016  Scotland 92–22 [32]
24 September 2016 Exiles[Note 2] 42–18 2016 Four Nations [21]
24 September 2016  Scotland 41–28 [34]
25 September 2016  England 14–56 [21]
25 September 2016  England 26–52 2016 Four Nations Final [21][35]
29 April 2017  Ireland 51–6 2017 Celtic Cup [11]
29 April 2017  Scotland 71–0 [36]
20 July 2017  Australia 24–72 2017 World Cup Group stage [5]
22 July 2017  England 32–78 [5]
24 July 2017  France 10–118 [5]
25 July 2017  Italy 24–105 2017 World Cup Group stage play-off [5]
27 July 2017  Spain 66–45 2017 World Cup 5th-place play-off [5]
28 April 2018  Scotland 112–41 2018 Celtic Cup [37]
28 April 2018  Ireland 84–30 [22]
27 April 2019  Scotland 102–10 2019 Celtic Cup [38]
27 April 2019  Ireland 109–8 [23]
28 September 2019  Scotland 90–12 2019 Tri-Nations [39]
28 September 2019  England 24–48 [23]
29 September 2019  England 40–54 2019 Tri-Nations Final [40]
12 June 2021  Ireland 96–16 2021 Celtic Cup [25]
12 June 2021  Scotland 102–18 [41]
26 June 2021  England 22–102 Friendly [25]
16 October 2021  Ireland 62–48 Friendly [25]
30 October 2021  Scotland 70–34 Friendly [42]
7 May 2022  Ireland 64–22 2022 Celtic Cup [26]
7 May 2022  Scotland 116–6 [43]
8 October 2022  Ireland 67–52 Friendly [26]
29 October 2022  Australia 38–86 Friendly [26]
4 November 2022  France 6–154 2021 World Cup Group stage [26][13]
7 November 2022  United States 50–32 [26]
10 November 2022  Scotland 70–36 [26]
13 November 2022  England 22–125 2021 World Cup Semi-final [26][16]
18 June 2023  Ireland 30–30 2023 Celtic Cup [27]
18 June 2023  Scotland 76–30 [27]
14 January 2024 British Army 34–24 Test series warm-up game [44]
2 February 2024  United States 78–24 Two match test series [19]
3 February 2024  United States 52–22 [19]
8 June 2024  Scotland 52–64 2024 Celtic Cup [19][45]
8 June 2024  Ireland 32–68 [19][46]

Records

[edit]
IRL Wheelchair World Rankings
Official rankings as of June 2024
Rank Change Team Pts %
1 Steady  England 100
2 Steady  France 89
3 Increase 1  Australia 61
4 Increase 1  Ireland 49
5 Decrease 2  Wales 47
6 Steady  Scotland 38
7 Increase 1  United States 27
8 Decrease 1  Spain 23
9 Steady  Italy 0
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT
  • Biggest win: 116–6 v. Scotland (7 May 2022)[1][26]
  • Biggest defeat: 6–154 v. France (4 November 2022)[13]

Honours

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The first Celtic Cup took place in 2015 between Scotland and Ireland. Wales joined in 2016 to create a three-team tournament.[8]
  2. ^ The Exiles were a mix of Irish, Welsh and English players as Ireland were unable to travel with a full side to the 2016 Four Nations[33]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Wales Wheelchair celebrates ten years". Wales Rugby League. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  2. ^ "England win Wheelchair Four Nations". European Rugby League. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2012". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Hull hosts Wheelchair Rugby League 4 Nations". European Rugby League. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Wheelchair World Cup". rugbyleague.wales. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2014". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2015". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Celtic Cup". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Wales set sights on sixth straight Celtic Cup". Everything Rugby League. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Wales retain wheelchair Celtic Cup after historic draw". International Rugby League. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  11. ^ a b c "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2017". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Match Report: 2017 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup Fifth-Place Play-Off". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  13. ^ a b c "France fall just short of world record in breathtaking Wheelchair rugby league opener". Love Rugby League. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup: Wales see off USA 50–32 to keep semi-final hopes alive". BBC Sport. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup: Wales beat Scotland 70-36 to set up England semi-final". BBC Sport. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  16. ^ a b "England Wheelchair 125–22 Wales Wheelchair". RLWC2021. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  17. ^ "RLWC2021: Women's and Wheelchair Teams of the Tournament revealed". Love Rugby League. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Wales Wheelchair Rugby League confirm squad for USA tour". ITV News. 10 December 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d e f "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2024". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Rugby League World Cup 2021: Official wheelchair squads". NRL.com. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  21. ^ a b c d e "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2016". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2018". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  23. ^ a b c "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2019". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  24. ^ "The Wheelchair Rugby League Celtic Cup returns to Scotland". Scotland Rugby League. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  25. ^ a b c d "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2021". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2022". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  27. ^ a b c "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2023". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  28. ^ "Wales 20v6 Scotland". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  29. ^ "Wales 44–4 Ireland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  30. ^ "England 34–0 Wales". European Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  31. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 14v34 SCOT Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  32. ^ "SCOT Wheelchair 22v92 WAL Wheelchair". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  33. ^ "Exiles Wheelchair 62v24 SCOT Wheelchair". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  34. ^ "SCOT Wheelchair 28v41 WAL Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  35. ^ "England claim Wheelchair 4 Nations title". Scotland Rugby League. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  36. ^ "SCOT Wheelchair 0v71 WAL Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  37. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 112v41 SCOT Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  38. ^ "SCOT Wheelchair 10v102 WAL Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  39. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 90v12 SCOT Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  40. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 40v54 ENG Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  41. ^ "SCOT Wheelchair 18v102 WAL Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  42. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 70v34 SCOT Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  43. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 116v6 SCOT Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  44. ^ "Cadair Olwyn | Wales 34 The Army 24". Wales Rugby League. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  45. ^ "Scotland 64 v 52 Wales". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  46. ^ "Ireland 68 v 32 Wales". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
[edit]

Official website

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