New Zealand, USA confirm Wheelchair berths at RLWC2026

New Zealand is set to contest the IRL Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup for the first time after being one of six nations confirmed for RLWC2026 in Australia.

The Wheel Kiwis will join Australia, England, France and Wales, who automatically qualified as the semi-finalists at the last World Cup in 2022, along with the United States.

The remaining two Wheelchair berths for RLWC2026 will be decided by an application and invitation process, details of which will be announced very shortly by the IRL Wheelchair Advisory Group.

After making their international Wheelchair debut last October against the Wheelaroos, the New Zealand Wheel Kiwis qualify for RLWC2026 as the Asia Pacific representative.

NZRL CEO Greg Peters said: “We are excited about the opportunity for the Wheel Kiwis to play in their inaugural RLWC in Australia 2026.

“We have witnessed the growth of Wheelchair Rugby League over recent years, and in particular during RLWC2021 (postponed until 2022 due to the Covid pandemic), and as a country that prides itself on inclusivity are proud to be a part of the growth of this part of the game.

“It will certainly be a challenge competing against the top countries in the world, but we love a challenge."
Wheelchair Rugby League has continued to grow since the success of the last World Cup in England, which was won by the host nation in an epic final against France.

The decider, which was played in front of a record Wheelchair Rugby League crowd of 4526 at Manchester Central the night before the Men’s and Women’s World Cup finals at Old Trafford on November 19, 2022, attracted a peak television audience of 1.3m viewers on BBC.

The USA Wheel Hawks were one of eight Wheelchair nations at the last World Cup in England and last year hosted Wales in a two-match series in South Carolina – the first time Wheelchair Rugby League had been played in the Americas.

The Wheel Hawks will be the Americas representative at RLWC2026.

USARL Chair Matt Goschnick said: “Competing in any World Cup is a privilege, especially with limited places on offer. The USARL Wheel Hawks’ qualification for back-to-back World Cups is a proud achievement reflecting the dedication of our players, coaches, and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to establish and grow this program. As the sole US representative in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup programme, their resilience and commitment deserve full recognition.

“This opportunity goes far beyond the sport. We hope to leverage our participation in the World Cup not only to raise awareness and grow the game, but to build an inclusive community that creates new fans, inspires new players, and supports our patriotic veteran population—over 5.5 million of whom live with service-connected disabilities. Through Wheelchair Rugby League, we hope to aid reintegration, restore confidence, and open doors to new opportunities.

“Our mission is not just to compete at the highest level, but to create lasting impact, empower individuals, and expand the reach of this incredible sport across the United States.”

RLWC2026 will be the fifth Wheelchair World Cup, with the first staged in Australia in 2008, England hosting in 2013 and 2022 (RLWC2021), and France hosting in 2017.
 
The World Cup will also mark 20 years since the first Wheelchair international when Great Britain were defeated 20-6 by France on June 3, 2006.

USARL Wheel Hawks coach Geoff Mason added: “The USARL Wheel Hawks proudly welcome the invitation to compete in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia. We’re eager to build on the momentum from our debut at the 2021 World Cup, where Team USA made an immediate impact—defeating Scotland 62-41 in our opening match and delivering a competitive performance against a highly ranked Wales side, falling just short at 32-50.

“This next opportunity represents another significant step forward in our journey. We are honoured to carry the US flag on the world stage and showcase the strength, growth, and potential of our team and program. The potential for wheelchair rugby league in the United States is enormous, and we’re confident this is only the beginning. Our goal is to continue raising the profile of the sport, expand our talent base, and inspire the next generation of athletes across the country.”