Wales national wheelchair rugby league team

WalesTeam information

Governing body| Wales Rugby League
Region| Europe
Head coach| Stephen Jones
IRL ranking| 3rd
Team results
First international

* Wales 20–6 Scotland
* Hull, England (7 July 2012)[1]

World Cup
Appearances| 3 (first time in 2013)
Best result|

* 3rd, 2013
* Semi-final, 2021

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 as of 2023[update] have remained 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]

## 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): [18]

## Competitive record[edit]

### World Cup[edit]

World Cup Record

Year  | Finish
2008 | Did not enter
2013 | 3rd
2017 | 5th
2021 | Semi-final

### Celtic Cup[edit]

Celtic Cup Record[Note 1]

Year  | Opponent  | Finish  | Ref.
Ireland | Scotland
2015 | — | — | — |
2016 | W | W | 1st | [19]
2017 | W | W | 1st | [11]
2018 | W | W | 1st | [20]
2019 | W | W | 1st | [21]
2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | [22]
2021 | W | W | 1st | [23]
2022 | W | W | 1st | [24]
2023 | D | W | 1st | [25]

### Results and fixtures[edit]

Date  | Opponent  | Score  | Competition  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

7 July 2012  |  Scotland | 20–6  | 2012 Four Nations  | [26]
7 July 2012  |  Ireland | 44–4  | [27]
8 July 2012  |  England | 0–34  | [28]
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  | [29]
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  | [19]
30 April 2016  |  Scotland | 92–22  | [30]
24 September 2016  | Exiles[Note 2] | 42–18  | 2016 Four Nations  | [19]
24 September 2016  |  Scotland | 41–28  | [32]
25 September 2016  |  England | 14–56  | [19]
25 September 2016  |  England | 26–52  | 2016 Four Nations Final  | [19][33]
29 April 2017  |  Ireland | 51–6  | 2017 Celtic Cup  | [11]
29 April 2017  |  Scotland | 71–0  | [34]
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  | [35]
28 April 2018  |  Ireland | 84–30  | [20]
27 April 2019  |  Scotland | 102–10  | 2019 Celtic Cup  | [36]
27 April 2019  |  Ireland | 109–8  | [21]
28 September 2019  |  Scotland | 90–12  | 2019 Tri-Nations  | [37]
28 September 2019  |  England | 24–48  | [21]
29 September 2019  |  England | 40–54  | 2019 Tri-Nations Final  | [38]
12 June 2021  |  Ireland | 96–16  | 2021 Celtic Cup  | [23]
12 June 2021  |  Scotland | 102–18  | [39]
26 June 2021  |  England | 22–102  | Friendly  | [23]
30 October 2021  |  Ireland | 62–48  | Friendly  | [23]
16 October 2021  |  Scotland | 70–34  | Friendly  | [40]
7 May 2022  |  Ireland | 64–22  | 2022 Celtic Cup  | [24]
7 May 2022  |  Scotland | 116–6  | [41]
8 October 2022  |  Ireland | 67–52  | Friendly  | [24]
29 October 2022  |  Australia | 38–86  | Friendly  | [24]
4 November 2022  |  France | 6–154  | 2021 World Cup Group stage  | [24][13]
7 November 2022  |  United States | 50–32  | [24]
10 November 2022  |  Scotland | 70–36  | [24]
13 November 2022  |  England | 22–125  | 2021 World Cup Semi-final  | [24][16]
18 June 2023  |  Ireland | 30–30  | 2023 Celtic Cup  | [25]
18 June 2023  |  Scotland | 76–30  | [25]
2 February 2024  |  United States | 78–24  | Two match test series  | [42]
3 February 2024  | 52–22  | [42]

## Records[edit]

IRL Wheelchair World Rankings

* v
* t
* e

Official rankings as of December 2023
Rank | Change | Team | Pts %
1  |  |  England | 100
2  |  |  France | 88
3  |  |  Wales | 59
4  |  |  Australia | 48
5  |  |  Ireland | 42
6  |  |  Scotland | 31
7  |  |  Spain | 22
8  |  |  USA | 19
9  |  |  Italy | 0
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT

* Biggest win: 116–6 v. Scotland (7 May 2022)[1][24]
* Biggest defeat: 6–154 v. France (4 November 2022)[13]

## Honours[edit]

* Celtic Cup: (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)[10]

## 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[31]

## 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. ^ "Rugby League World Cup 2021: Official wheelchair squads". NRL.com. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
19. ^ a b c d e "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2016". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
20. ^ a b "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2018". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
21. ^ a b c "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2019". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
22. ^ "The Wheelchair Rugby League Celtic Cup returns to Scotland". Scotland Rugby League. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
23. ^ a b c d "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2021". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
24. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2022". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
25. ^ a b c "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2023". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
26. ^ "Wales 20v6 Scotland". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
27. ^ "Wales 44–4 Ireland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
28. ^ "England 34–0 Wales". European Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
29. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 14v34 SCOT Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
30. ^ "SCOT Wheelchair 22v92 WAL Wheelchair". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
31. ^ "Exiles Wheelchair 62v24 SCOT Wheelchair". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
32. ^ "SCOT Wheelchair 28v41 WAL Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
33. ^ "England claim Wheelchair 4 Nations title". Scotland Rugby League. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
34. ^ "SCOT Wheelchair 0v71 WAL Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
35. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 112v41 SCOT Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
36. ^ "SCOT Wheelchair 10v102 WAL Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
37. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 90v12 SCOT Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
38. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 40v54 ENG Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
39. ^ "SCOT Wheelchair 18v102 WAL Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
40. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 70v34 SCOT Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
41. ^ "WAL Wheelchair 116v6 SCOT Wheelchair". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
42. ^ a b "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2024". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 4 February 2024.

## External links[edit]

Official website

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*[v]: View this template
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*[Change]: Change from December 2022
*[Pts %]: Percentage points