2024 IRL Wheelchair Golden Boot long list announced

England’s Josh Butler is in contention to add the 2024 IRL Golden Boot to his Wheels of Steel award after being among 14 players nominated by leading figures in Wheelchair Rugby League and members of the international media for prestigous award.

Butler, who was last month named the 2024 Super League Wheelchair player of the year, is vying for the Golden Boot with England team-mates Nathan Collins, Joe Coyd and Rob Hawkins, as well as players from Australia, France, Ireland, Scotland, Spain and Wales

Butler is vying for the Golden Boot with England team-mates Nathan Collins, Joe Coyd and Rob Hawkins, as well as players from Australia, France, Ireland, Scotland, Spain and Wales.

Nicolas Clausells, who scored 28 points in France’s gripping 32-28 defeat of England last weekend to regain the Fassolette-Kielty Trophy, is one of three Frenchman on the Golden Boot long list.

The others are Catalans team-mates Damien Dore and Leo Hivernat, who along with Clausells will be hoping to keep the Golden Boot in French hands after Jeremy Bourson won the 2023 award.

Ireland have been recognised for their triumph in the Celtic Cup against Wales and Scotland, as well as last week’s match against France, with the nominations of Joseph Calcott and Peter Johnston.

Wheelaroos stars Bayley McKenna and Zac Schumacher were nominated for the Golden Boot after starring in the first trans-Tasman series against New Zealand, which coincided with the Pacific Championships.

McKenna scored a record 44-point haul for the Wheelaroos in the series opener, which was the international debut of the Wheel Kiwis, while New Zealand-born Schumacher was player-of-the-match in the second game.

Wales, who became the first international rugby league wheelchair team to tour the United States earlier this year, are represented by Scott Trigg-Turner.

Scotland’s Callum Davidson has also made the long list, along with Yannick Martin of Spain.

IRL Chair Troy Grant said: “Wheelchair Rugby League is continuing to go from strength to strength and that is reflected in the field of players under consideration for the 2024 IRL Golden Boot.

“This year international wheelchair fixtures have been played for the first time in the United States and New Zealand.

“For the United States the series against Wales built on their debut at RLWC2021, while the two matches against Australia was the first time New Zealand had been represented in Wheelchair Rugby League.

“These developments are significant as the game builds towards the next World Cup in 2026, to be hosted by the Australian Rugby League Commission.

“In addition, France recently played host for matches involving England, Ireland and Spain. The finale last Sunday between France and England the French was a clash that revived memories of the epic 2021 World Cup final in Manchester.

“Elsewhere, Ireland hosted the Celtic Cup for the first time in the 10-year history of the tournament between Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

“Ireland’s win ended seven years of Celtic Cup domination by Wales.

“On behalf of the IRL Board, I congratulate the players nominated for the 2024 IRL Golden Boot and all those whose efforts have helped expand the wheelchair game across the globe.”

The IRL Golden Boot is awarded to the best player in sanctioned rugby league international matches each year.

The Wheelchair 2024 IRL Golden Boot is chosen by a judging panel which includes Malcolm Kielty, one of the founders of Wheelchair Rugby League, renowned journalist, author and publisher Phil Caplan, IRL Wheelchair Rugby League Advisory Group Chair Niel Wood, French coach Cyril Torres and England manager Martin Coyd, who is another driving force in the game’s development.

The 2023 IRL Golden Boot winners were New Zealand’s James Fisher-Harris and Georgia Hale, and French Wheelchair star Jeremy Bourson.

The winners of the 2024 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced in December.

2024 IRL Golden Boot long list

Wheelchair

• Josh Butler (England)
• Joseph Calcott (Ireland)
• Nicolas Clausells (France)
• Nathan Collins (England)
• Joe Coyd (England)
• Callum Davidson (Scotland)
• Damien Dore (France)
• Rob Hawkins (England)
• Peter Johnston (Ireland)
• Leo Hivernat (France)
• Yannick Martin (Spain)
• Bayley McKenna (Australia)
• Zac Schumacher (Australia) 
• Scott Trigg-Turner (Wales)

Previous winners

Wheelchair

•  2019 Jack Brown (England)
• 2020-2021 No award
• 2022 Seb Bechara (England)
• 2023 Jeremy Bourson (France)