Hawkins among five World Cup winners in England squad

Rob Hawkins is among five Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup winners who will attempt to help England defend the trophy in Australia this autumn.

Hawkins, Wheelchair Super League’s top try-scorer this season with 70, scored four tries as Halifax Panthers completed a domestic treble by beating Leeds Rhinos to win Sunday’s Grand Final.

He is joined in England’s 10-player final World Cup squad by club-mates Jack Brown – who scored six tries in that final – and Finlay O’Neill.

Both Hawkins and Brown were part of the England squad who defeated France dramatically at Manchester Central in November 2022 to win the World Cup.

So too was Lewis King, who will captain England down under, plus King’s London Roosters club-mate Joe Coyd and Leeds Rhinos’ Nathan Collins.

Collins will be joined in the England squad by Leeds team-mate Tristan Norfolk, Roosters’ Mason Billington and the Sheffield Eagles pair of Luis Domingos and Chris Haynes.

England face Wales on Friday, 30 October (04:30 GMT) in their opening match at the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup – which will be staged alongside the men’s and women’s tournaments.

They then face the USA on Tuesday, 3 November (07:30 GMT) and Ireland on Friday, 6 November (06:00 GMT), aiming to secure a spot in the following Tuesday’s semi-finals.

The wheelchair tournament will be staged at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre, with the final on Friday, 13 November (08:30 GMT).

England head coach Tom Coyd – who led the side to their World Cup success in Manchester four years ago – said: “Every player understands what it means to wear the England shirt and the responsibility that comes with it.

“Yesterday’s brilliant Wheelchair Super League Grand Final was a testament to the special community that we are privileged to represent on the world stage.”

England’s wheelchair squad will fly out to Australia on 22 October.

England squad: Mason Billington (London Roosters), Jack Brown (Halifax Panthers), Nathan Collins (Leeds Rhinos), Joe Coyd (London Roosters), Luis Domingos (Sheffield Eagles), Rob Hawkins (Halifax Panthers), Chris Haynes (Sheffield Eagles), Lewis King (London Roosters), Tristan Norfolk (Leeds Rhinos), Finlay O’Neill (Halifax Panthers).