Key Points
- Leeds Rhinos players Nathan Collins and Tristan Norfolk have been named in the final ten-player England squad for the upcoming Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.
- The squad announcement follows the Betfred Wheelchair Super League Grand Final, where Halifax Panthers defeated the Leeds Rhinos 64-24.
- England Wheelchair Head Coach Tom Coyd selected a ten-player touring party that balances experienced international veterans with emerging pathway talent.
- The selected squad features players from the London Roosters, Halifax Panthers, Sheffield Eagles, and Leeds Rhinos.
- Notable omissions from the final touring party include Leeds Rhinos’ Josh Butler, Hull FC’s Josh Edwards, and former England captain Tom Halliwell.
- England will complete final preparations with a training camp at St George’s Park before flying to Australia on Thursday, October 22, ahead of their opening match against Wales on Friday, October 30, at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.
Leeds (The Leeds Times) September 21, 2026 —The national selection was officially unveiled in the wake of a bruising Betfred Wheelchair Super League Grand Final showdown. As reported by sports publication Total Rugby League, the domestic season finale culminated in a 64-24 victory for the treble-winning Halifax Panthers over the Leeds Rhinos. Despite the heavy defeat at the final hurdle, individual resilience and standout performances throughout the year ensured that Leeds representatives Nathan Collins and Tristan Norfolk earned the nod from the national coaching staff for the international trip.
Who Makes Up the Rest of the England World Cup Touring Party?
Alongside the Leeds Rhinos pair, England Wheelchair Head Coach Tom Coyd has curated a tight, ten-player travelling squad designed to defend the nation’s global crown. According to coverage by Total Rugby League, the selected roster draws heavily from the dominant domestic outfits of the 2026 season.
The London Roosters contribute three major figures to the squad, including team captain Lewis King, fellow 2022 World Cup winner Joe Coyd, and Mason Billington.
Meanwhile, the dominant Halifax Panthers add a formidable three-man contingent comprising Jack Brown—who scored a staggering six tries in the Grand Final—alongside Rob Hawkins and Finlay O’Neill. Rounding out the final ten are the Sheffield Eagles duo of Luis Domingos and Chris Haynes, alongside Leeds Rhinos’ Nathan Collins and Tristan Norfolk.
Who Missed Out on the Final World Cup Selection?
The fierce competition for places in the national setup meant that several notable names failed to make the final cut after participating in the twelve-man training squad that had been in place since July. Total Rugby League noted that Leeds player Josh Butler and Hull FC player Josh Edwards both missed out on the final selection.
Most notably, former England captain Tom Halliwell has been left out of the touring party. Despite making a successful comeback earlier in the year following major shoulder surgery, the influential Rhinos stalwart could not force his way into the final ten-man group chosen to defend the trophy.
What Did England Coach Tom Coyd Say About the Selection?
Addressing the media following the finalization of the squad, England Wheelchair Head Coach Tom Coyd emphasized that narrowing down the talent pool was an exceptionally difficult task.
As quoted by Total Rugby League, Tom Coyd stated that
“selecting a World Cup squad is never easy, but this group has earned the opportunity through their performances, commitment and professionalism throughout the programme”.
Elaborating on the strategic composition of the team, Tom Coyd added that
“we have a blend of experienced international players and those who have emerged through the pathway, and together, I believe we can be a team that’s hard to play against, with the versatility to win in different ways”.
Tom Coyd also highlighted the internal culture of the group, noting that
“the squad has developed a real connection on and off the field. They’ve challenged each other to get better all the time, and we’ve seen significant growth across the group”.
What Are the Next Steps for the England Squad?
Before embarking on their international campaign, the England contingent will assemble for one final intense training camp. According to Total Rugby League, the squad is scheduled to meet at St George’s Park—the Football Association’s elite national centre located in Staffordshire—over the weekend of October 3 to October 4.
Following the conclusion of the domestic camp, the team will fly out to Australia on Thursday, October 22. England’s tournament campaign kicks off in the group stage against Wales on Friday, October 30. Subsequent group fixtures will see them face the United States on Tuesday, November 3, and Ireland on Friday, November 6, with every match of the tournament hosted at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.
Explore More Leeds Rhinos News
Leeds Rhinos Face Warrington Wolves in Super League Semi-Final Leeds 2026
Halifax Panthers Defeat Leeds Rhinos in Wheelchair Super League Grand Final in Manchester 2026
Background of the Particular Development
The selection of the England Wheelchair Rugby League squad comes at a watershed moment for the sport, which has experienced an exponential rise in profile, competitiveness, and institutional backing since England’s historic triumph at the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup held in late 2022. That tournament captured public imagination through its uncompromising intensity, inclusivity, and broadcast visibility.
Domestically, the Betfred Wheelchair Super League has continued to expand its standard of play, driven by powerhouse clubs like the Halifax Panthers, Leeds Rhinos, and London Roosters.
The intense rivalry between these clubs has forged a hardened pool of elite athletes capable of competing at the highest international tier. With the international governing body staging the upcoming tournament in Wollongong, Australia, the stakes for the English national team involve not only defending their hard-earned global status away from home soil, but also cementing wheelchair rugby league’s permanent footprint in the wider mainstream sporting consciousness.
Prediction
This squad selection and the subsequent World Cup campaign carry profound implications for the sport’s domestic audience, stakeholders, and aspiring athletes across the United Kingdom. By featuring a balance of seasoned veterans like Nathan Collins and dynamic newer pathways representatives, the team’s performance in Australia will directly influence media visibility and commercial investment in British wheelchair rugby league.
A successful defense of the World Cup trophy in Wollongong would likely catalyze grassroots participation, inspiring a new generation of disabled and able-bodied athletes to enter club pathways through organizations like the Leeds Rhinos Foundation. Conversely, it places immense pressure on domestic clubs to elevate their infrastructure to match the increasingly professional demands of international competition, ultimately shaping the long-term growth trajectory of disability sport in Britain.
