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.
History 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.
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. At the 2013 World Cup, Australia won their opening match 148–0 against Scotland. 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.
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. To enable the Australian team to take part they received from the NRL towards their transport costs. Australia reached the semi-finals but were again defeated by England. Australia finished their campaign with a 58–45 win over Italy in the third-place play-off. In 2019, Australia hosted an England tour in which the two teams played a two-match Ashes Test series. A Wheelaroo Tour to England in October 2020 was planned but did not take place. At the 2021 World Cup, Australia reached the semi-finals where they lost 84–40 to France. 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. A proposed tour to Australia by France was also cancelled. 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.
Current squad
The Australia squad for the 2026 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/09/23/australian-wheelaroos-named-for-2026-rugby-league-world-cup/
PlayerBayley McKenna (C)Daniel AnsteyPeter ArbuckleCory CannaneDiab KarimLiam LuffToby PoppleStephan RochecousteZac SchumacherAdam Tannock
Competitive record World Cup RecordYearFinish 2008 Runners-up 20134th place 2017 3rd place 2021 Semi-finalist
Results
DateScoreOpponentCompetitionVenueAttendanceRef.7 November 200826–342008 World Cup Group stageSydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen10 November 200814–44 Betts Stadium, Sydney12 November 200888–0BarbariansSydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen14 November 200822–202008 World Cup Semi-final Whitlam Centre, Sydney17 November 200812–442008 World Cup FinalBetts Stadium, Sydney29 June 201312–1022013 World Cup warm-up matchCentre Sportif du Mont-Valérien, Nanterre3 July 2013148–02013 World Cup Group stageMedway Park, Gillingham6 July 201316–259 July 20136–7211 July 201310–812013 World Cup Semi-final13 July 201314–162013 World Cup 3rd/4th play-off18 July 201716–702017 World Cup warm-up matchGymnase L'Olympie, Limoux20 July 201772–242017 World Cup Group stageHalle aux Sport, Carcassonne22 July 201722–102Complexe La Rijole, Pamiers24 July 201726–80Gymnase du Lac, Saint-Jory25 July 201749–402017 World Cup Group play-offsGymnase du Cosec, Albi26 July 201724–762017 World Cup Semi-finalGymnase Compans Cafferlli, Toulouse27 July 201758–452017 World Cup 3rd/4th play-offGymnase du Cosec, St-Orens21 October 201928–84 Ashes Test series Whitlam Leisure Centre, Sydney23 October 201950–58 University of Wollongong, Wollongong26 October 2022?–? British Army2021 World Cup warm-up matchesMedway Park, Gillingham29 October 202286–38Cardiff Met University Cyncoed Campus, Cardiff31 October 2022129–1Medway Park, Gillingham3 November 20228–382021 World Cup Group StageCopper Box, London3,0336 November 202276–183,2689 November 202252–323,84713 November 202240–842021 World Cup Semi-finalEnglish Institute of Sport, Sheffield1,3181 November 202498–4Two match series friendlyEventfinda Stadium, Auckland4 November 2024110–830 October 202528–56Ashes Test seriesGold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, Gold Coast2 November 202542–48
Upcoming fixtures 2026 World Cup – 30 October–13 November, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
Knockout stage
Records and statistics
+ Australia historical IRL Wheelchair World Rankings Jun2020 Dec2021 Jun2022 Dec2022 Jun2023 Dec2023 Jun2024 Dec2024 Jun2025 Nov2025 Aug2026Ranking (3) (4) (1) (1) (1) References Biggest win: 148–0 v. Scotland (3 July 2013) Biggest defeat: 12–102 v. France (29 June 2013)
Notes
References
External links Wheelaroos: NRL Wheelchair