Wheelchair rugby league

Version of rugby league football

For the sport formerly known as Murderball, see wheelchair rugby.

For the ambulatory format of disability rugby league, see physical disability rugby league.

Wheelchair rugby league is a wheelchair-based version of rugby league football, one of two recognised disability versions of the sport. It was developed in France in 2000. Unlike other wheelchair sports, people without disabilities are allowed to compete in top-level competition.[1] The sport is also unique in the fact that men and women of any age can play against each other in top-level competition.

## History

[edit]

Wheelchair rugby league was developed by French rugby league players and coaches, Robert Fassolette and Wally Salvan, in 2000.[2][3][4] The first competition was played by three teams, Vichy, Roanne and Beauvais, as part of a French Téléthon.[4] Meetings establishing the official rules of the sport took place in 2002.[5] The sport spread to the south of France with the establishment of teams from Perpignan, Cahors, and Montauban in 2004,[4] and internationally after a tour by a French team to Australia[6] and two exhibition matches played in England in 2005.[7][8] In May 2006, the RLIF accepted a proposal by France to endorse wheelchair rugby league[9] and a month later the first test match was played between France and a touring Great Britain team.[8] The first international between England and France took place in 2007 and the following year the inaugural World Cup was held in Australia.[7]

From its inception, until very recently, the top level of the sport was played no differently to other levels of the game. All matches took place in community sports halls, including international games, often with no-one in attendance.[10] In 2013, the venue for the World Cup, Medway Park, had a crowd capacity of 500.[11] Following France's win at that World Cup, a crowd of 2,700 was recorded for their next home match against England in 2014.[12] In Australia, the attendance of 1,000 at the Wheelchair State of Origin match in 2019 was estimated to have been twice the size of the previous year.[13] However, following the 2021 World Cup (played in 2022), where the competition was given equal prominence with the men's and women's game,[14][15] the popularity of the sport, both during and after the tournament, exploded. Games of the 2021 tournament, and following matches, have since been played in major arenas in countries such as Australia, France, and the United Kingdom, often with several thousand in attendance. In the year following the 2021 World Cup, participation of the sport also rose by 71%.[10]

In March 2024, wheelchair rugby league's first ever varsity fixture was played between Brunel University London and St Mary's University, Twickenham.[16]

New Zealand made their international debut on 1 November 2024, marking the tenth nation to participate in the sport at international level.[17]

## Geography

[edit]

There are only ten countries with national wheelchair rugby league teams registered with the International Rugby League.

IRL Wheelchair World Rankings

* v
* t
* e

Official rankings as of July 2025
Rank | Change | Team | Pts %
1  |  |  England | 100
2  |  |  France | 96
3  |  |  Ireland | 60
4  |  |  Australia | 52
5  |  |  Wales | 49
6  |  |  Scotland | 41
7  |  |  Spain | 27
8  |  |  United States | 25
9  |  1 |  Italy | 0
Complete rankings at
www.internationalrugbyleague.com

## Rules

[edit]

The game shares many features with the regular rugby league:[18]

* Use of a size 4 rugby ball
* Ball may only be passed backwards
* Each team retains possession for six tackles, after which there is a hand-over
* A modified version of the play-the-ball is used after a tackle
* Same offside rules as rugby league
* The 2006 rules[19]

The game then sees its own particular rules:

* Five players in each team[20]
* All kicks – penalties, drop outs and conversions – are taken with the fist
* Matches are generally played on a handball court with dimensions of 40×20 metres
* Indoor rugby posts are put in place for conversions, drop kicks and penalty kicks
* In professional competition a maximum of two 'able bodied' players are allowed on the pitch per team

## International competitions

[edit]

### World Cup

[edit]

Main article: Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup

The inaugural Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup was held at indoor venues in Sydney, Australia in 2008.

The 2013 Wheelchair RL World Cup was held in Gillingham, England in July. It saw a tightly fought game with big collisions culminate in a victory for France.

The 2017 World Cup was held in the south of France in July. The holders, France, triumphed over a strong England side in another tightly fought contest.

The 2021 World Cup (played in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) took place in England with 8 teams, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, USA and Australia. For the USA this was to be their first major tournament. England defeated France 28–24 in the final in Manchester with an attendance of 4,526, the largest in the sport's history.[21] Also, in a world first, all matches were broadcast by the BBC.

#### World Cup summaries

[edit]

Year  | Host nation(s)  | Teams  | Final result

|
|
|

Winner  | Score  | Runner-up
2008 | Sydney, Australia | 4  |  England | 44–12  |  Australia
2013[22] | Gillingham, England | 6  |  France | 42–40[23] |  England
2017 | France | 7  |  France | 38–34  |  England
2021 | England | 8  |  England | 28–24[24] |  France

### European Championship

[edit]

Main article: Wheelchair Rugby League European Championship

The Wheelchair Rugby League European Championship was first held in 2015 as a one off tournament. It is expected to occur every four years from 2023.

#### European Championship summaries

[edit]

Year  | Host nation(s)  | Teams  | Final result

|
|
|

Winner  | Score  | Runner-up
2015  | Gillingham, England | 5  |  England | 28–24  |  France

### Celtic Cup

[edit]

Main article: Celtic Cup (wheelchair rugby league)

The Celtic Cup has been held annually since 2015 and features the three Celtic nations of the British Isles – Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Titles

* Ireland: 3
* Scotland: 0
* Wales: 7

### Fassolette-Kielty Trophy

[edit]

Main article: Fassolette-Kielty Trophy

The Fassolette-Kielty Trophy is a challenge competition between England and France, and is played for during all non-tournament tests.

Titles

* England: 5
* France: 7

### The Ashes

[edit]

Main article: Wheelchair rugby league Ashes

The Ashes is a competition between Australia and England. It was first contested in 2019.[25]

Titles

* Australia: 0
* England: 1

## Domestic competitions

[edit]

ARL[26]

* Wheelchair NRL
* Wheelchair State Challenge

FFR[27]

* Wheelchair Elite One Championship
* Wheelchair Elite Two Championship
* Coupe de France de Para Rugby XIII

RFL[28]

* Wheelchair Super League
* Wheelchair Championship
* Wheelchair Challenge Cup
* Wheelchair Challenge Trophy

SRL[29]

* Wheelchair Premiership[a]

WRL[30]

* Wheelchair Invitational League[b]

Multi national

* European Club Challenge

## List of Clubs

[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2023)

|

### England and Wales

[edit]

The British domestic league is one of the more established in the world with over twenty teams from across the country taking part. They feature in the RFL Wheelchair Super League, Championship League and regional development leagues. Teams in Britain include:[28][31]

Super League

* Edinburgh Giants
* Halifax Panthers
* Hull F.C.
* Leeds Rhinos
* London Roosters
* Sheffield Eagles
* Wigan Warriors

Championship - East

* Batley Bulldogs
* Bradford Bulls
* Castleford Tigers
* Hull KR
* Wakefield Trinity
* York Knights

Championship - West

* Hereford Harriers
* North Wales Crusaders
* Rochdale Hornets
* Salford Red Devils
* Warrington Wolves
* Widnes Vikings

Regional South

* Bedford Tigers
* Brentwood Eels
* Gravesend Dynamite
* Medway Dragons
* Woodland Warriors

### France

[edit]

As with the running variant of the sport, most of the French wheelchair rugby league teams are situated in the south of the country. A list of clubs include:[27]

* Aingirak
* Avignon
* Catalans Dragons
* Montauban
* Saint Jory
* Toulouse Olympique

### Scotland

[edit]

Unlike the running game, the Scottish league is not integrated into the British rugby league system, however the teams have played in the all Great Britain Wheelchair Challenge Cup.

* Dundee Dragons
* Edinburgh Giants
* Glasgow RL

## See also

[edit]

* IRL Wheelchair World Rankings
* Wheelchair sports
* Wheelchair rugby
* Wheelchair Australian rules football

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Scottish clubs are not integrated into the British system but still participate in the Challenge Cup.
2. ^ A separately run league outside of the British system. Welsh clubs participate in the Wheelchair Super League and Wheelchair Championship as their primary competition.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "NSWWRL Launched". NSWRL. 3 December 2009.[dead link]
2. ^ "The Fassolette-Kielty Trophy". RFL. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
3. ^ "Rules of the Game". NRL Wheelchair. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
4. ^ a b c "Handisport : le Para Rugby XIII et le rugby fauteuil, deux disciplines distinctes au service d'une même cause" (in French). FFRXIII. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
5. ^ "Coupe du Monde: Les places pour les demi-finales à Toulouse sont en vente!" (in French). FFRXIII. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
6. ^ "International pioneer Tas Baitieri receives Order of Australia Medal". International Rugby League. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
7. ^ a b "Rugby League pioneers recognised in New Year's Honours". Rugby Football League. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014.
8. ^ a b "Major stages and big events". Rugby XIII Fauteuil. Archived from the original on 13 November 2008.
9. ^ "RLF meeting". Rugby League European Federation. 6 May 2006. Archived from the original on 22 May 2006.
10. ^ a b Bower, Aaron (2023-11-06). "Wheelchair rugby league is booming: it can open up new doors for the sport". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
11. ^ "Volunteers wanted for World Cup". Kent Sports News. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
12. ^ "Pari réussi pour l'Equipe de France XIII Fauteuil". FFRXIII (in French). 15 May 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
13. ^ "Blues' sweep made possible by wheelchair success". NRL. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
14. ^ "Nations Confirmed For Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2021". Able Magazine. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
15. ^ Heppenstall, Ross (21 October 2019). "2021 Rugby League World Cup: Female and wheelchair players to receive same fees as male counterparts for first time". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
16. ^ "London universities set for Wheelchair Rugby League's first varsity match".
17. ^ https://nzrl.co.nz/wheel-kiwis-make-historic-debut-against-the-wheelaroos/
18. ^ Smith, Peter (4 November 2023). "Wheelchair rugby league explained: history, rules, England v France rivalry and Leeds Test ticket details". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
19. ^ The 2006 rules Archived 2007-08-29 at the Wayback Machine
20. ^ "Wheelchair rugby league". RFL. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009.
21. ^ Bower, Aaron (18 November 2022). "England edge Out France to win Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup". The Guardian.
22. ^ "FOWC 2013". www.rlfowc2013.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-31.
23. ^ "Match Report: Wheelchair World Cup Final". European Rugby League. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
24. ^ "England beat France to win Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup - reaction". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
25. ^ "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.
26. ^ "Wheelchair Rugby League – A Game For All". November 21, 2023.
27. ^ a b "Championnats Fauteuil". 22 September 2017.
28. ^ a b "Wheelchair Rugby League". Rugby League. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
29. ^ "Scotland Rugby League Herald New Era".
30. ^ "Finals places up for grabs on Sunday - Wales Rugby League (WRL)". September 29, 2023.
31. ^ "Leeds face Edinburgh in Wheelchair Super League opener". BBC Sport. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* RFL page on Wheelchair rugby league
* Boots'N'All feature on Wheelchair rugby league
* English Federation of Disabled Sport
* RL Festival of World Cups 2013

* v
* t
* e

Wheelchair rugby league

World Cup|

* 2008
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021
* 2026

International|

* World Rankings
* Ashes
* Celtic Cup
* European Championship
* Fassolette-Kielty Trophy

National teams|

* Australia
* England
* France
* Ireland
* New Zealand
* Scotland
* United States
* Wales

Domestic / Club
Competitions|

* European Club Challenge

ARL|

* Wheelchair State Challenge

FFR|

* Elite 1
* Coupe de France

RFL|

* Super League
* Championship
* Challenge Cup

* v
* t
* e

Rugby football

Rugby union|

| General|

* Competitions
* Oldest competitions
* Dangerous play
* Equipment
* Eye-gouging
* Gameplay
* Glossary
* History
* International eligibility rules
* Laws
* Playing countries
* Positions

|

Variations|

* American flag rugby
* Beach
* Mini
* Samoa rules
* 7s
* Snow
* Tag
* Tambo
* 10s
* Touch
* Wheelchair
* Women's
* Rugby X

Comparisons|

* American football
* Canadian football
* Rugby league

Related topics|

* Olympic venues (7s)

Rugby league|

| General|

* Gameplay
* Geography
* History
* Laws
* Physical disability
* Playing field
* Wheelchair

|

Comparisons|

* American football
* Canadian football
* Rugby union

Related articles|

* Burnside rules
* Oldest clubs
* Oldest competitions

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Football codes

Association|

* Amputee
* Beach
* Crab
* Five-a-side
* Futsal
* Indoor
* Freestyle
* Keepie uppie
* Footbag
* Paralympic
* Powerchair
* Jorkyball
* Roller
* Rush goalie
* Swamp
* Street
* Teqball
* Three-sided
* Walking

Australian rules|

* AFLX
* Lightning football
* Metro footy
* Nine-a-side
* Rec footy
* Variations

Gaelic football (GAA)|

* Gaelic football
* Gaelic sevens

Gridiron|

* American
* Eight-man
* Flag
* Nine-man
* Seven-man
* Six-man
* Sprint
* Touch
* Wheelchair
* Arena
* Canadian

Rugby: League|

* League (XIIIs)
* Masters
* Mod
* Nines
* Sevens
* Tag
* Wheelchair
* PD Rugby League

Rugby: Union|

* Union (XVs)
* American flag
* Beach
* Mini
* Sevens
* Snow
* Tag
* Touch
* Tens
* X
* Tambo
* Touch
* Wheelchair rugby ('murderball')

Other codes|

* Circle rules
* Harrow
* Lelo burti

Hybrid codes|

* Austus
* Boston game
* Eton field
* Eton wall
* International rules
* Samoa rules
* Speedball
* Swedish
* Universal
* Volata

Rules and
regulations|

| Modern|

* Association
* Australian rules
* Gridiron
* American
* Canadian
* Gaelic
* Rugby league
* Rugby union

|

Former|

* Cambridge
* Sheffield

Ancient games|

* Caid
* Cuju
* Calcio Fiorentino
* English school games
* Episkyros
* Harpastum
* La soule
* Marn Grook
* Medieval
* Ba
* Camping
* Cnapan
* Cornish hurling
* Old Division
* Royal Shrovetide
* Uppies and Downies

History|

* American
* Early
* Modern
* Association
* Australian rules
* Gaelic
* Rugby league
* Rugby union

Comparisons|

* American and Canadian
* American and rugby league
* American and rugby union
* Association and rugby union
* Canadian and rugby league
* Canadian and rugby union
* Gaelic and Australian rules
* Gaelic and rugby union
* Rugby league and rugby union

Memorabilia|

* American football card
* Association football card
* Australian rules football card
* Rugby card

Related articles|

* Attempts to ban football games
* Oldest clubs
* Oldest competitions

* v
* t
* e

Team sports

* Sport
* Governing bodies
* National sport
* Sportspeople

Ball sports|

| Invasion games|

| Basket sports|

* Basketball
* beach
* deaf
* 3x3
* water
* wheelchair
* Cestoball
* Dueball
* Korfball
* Netball
* Fast5
* indoor
* wheelchair
* Rezball
* Ringball
* SlamBall

|

Football
codes|

* Australian rules football
* AFLX
* Lightning football
* Metro footy
* Nine-a-side
* Rec footy
* Gaelic football
* Ladies'
* Circle rules football

Association football|

* Association football
* amputee
* beach soccer
* freestyle
* futsal
* Indoor soccer
* minifootball
* paralympic
* powerchair
* roller soccer
* socca
* street

Gridiron codes|

* American football
* eight-man
* flag
* nine-man
* six-man
* sprint
* touch
* wheelchair
* Arena football
* Canadian football

Hybrid codes|

* Austus
* Eton wall game
* International rules football
* Samoa rules
* Speedball
* Swedish football
* Universal football
* Volata

Medieval/historical
football codes|

* Ba' Game
* Caid
* Calcio fiorentino
* Camping
* Cnapan
* Cornish hurling
* Cuju
* Harpastum
* Kemari
* La soule
* Lelo burti
* Marn grook
* Pasuckuakohowog
* Royal Shrovetide
* Uppies and downies

Rugby codes|

* Rugby league
* masters
* mod
* nines
* sevens
* tag
* wheelchair
* Rugby union
* American flag
* beach
* mini
* sevens
* snow
* tag
* Tambo
* touch
* tens
* X
* Touch
* Wheelchair

Other related codes|

* Cuju
* Kī-o-rahi
* Jegichagi
* Yubi lakpi

Stick-and-ball
sports|

* Bando
* Cammag
* Gateball
* Hurling
* Camogie
* Super11s
* Shinty–Hurling
* Indigenous North American stickball
* Iomain
* Knattleikr
* Knotty
* Lacrosse
* box/indoor
* field
* intercrosse
* women's
* Ritinis
* Shinty
* Shinty–Hurling

Hockey sports|

* Ball hockey
* Bandy
* rink
* Broomball
* Field hockey
* indoor
* Floor hockey
* Floorball
* Ice hockey
* pond
* power
* ice sledge
* Ringette
* Rinkball
* Roller hockey
* in-line
* quad
* Rossall hockey
* Shinny
* Street hockey
* Underwater hockey
* Unicycle hockey

Polo sports|

* Auto polo
* Cowboy polo
* Cycle polo
* Elephant polo
* Hobby horse polo
* Horseball
* Pato
* Polo
* Arena polo
* Chovgan
* Snow polo
* Polocrosse
* Segway polo
* Yak polo

Other goal sports|

* Angleball
* Cycle ball
* Flickerball
* Goalball
* Handball
* beach
* Czech
* field
* wheelchair
* Home Ball
* Motoball
* Pushball
* Quidditch
* Roll ball
* Underwater football
* Underwater rugby
* Water polo
* canoe
* inner tube
* Whirlyball

Bat-and-ball
games|

| Baseball variants|

* Baseball
* Baseball5
* Brännboll
* Corkball
* Kickball
* Matball
* Over-the-line
* Pesäpallo
* Rounders
* Schlagball
* Softball
* Fastpitch
* 16-inch
* Stickball
* Vitilla
* British baseball
* English baseball
* Welsh baseball
* Wiffle ball
* Town ball
* Wireball

|

Cricket variants|

* Cricket
* One Day
* Test
* Twenty20
* Indoor cricket
* Vigoro

Other games|

* Danish longball
* Lapta
* Oină
* Stoolball

Net and wall games|

* Ball badminton
* Biribol
* Bossaball
* Fistball
* Fives
* Eton
* Rugby
* Footbag net
* Football tennis
* Footvolley
* Jianzi
* Jokgu
* Newcomb ball
* Peteca
* Sepak takraw
* teqball
* Throwball
* Volleyball
* beach
* indoor
* sitting
* standing
* pioneerball
* snow

Other ball games|

* Dodgeball
* Gain-ground
* Balle à la main
* Ballon au poing
* Jeu de paume
* Longue paume
* Kaatsen
* Kin-Ball
* Lagori
* Mesoamerican ballgame
* Pelota mixteca
* Prisonball
* Tamburello
* Tchoukball
* Ulama
* Valencian pilota
* Llargues
* Yukigassen

Tag sports|

* Kabaddi
* Kho kho
* World Chase Tag

Water sports|

* Synchronized swimming
* Yacht racing

Other non-ball sports|

* Airsoft
* Bo-taoshi
* Buzkashi
* Combat (juggling)
* Curling
* wheelchair
* Guts
* Hornussen
* Jereed
* Makura-Nage
* Paintball
* Roller derby
* Synchronized skating
* Tug of war
* Ultimate

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Change]: Change from December 2024
*[Pts %]: Percentage points