England captured their third Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup title by defeating France 50-38 in the final held in Wollongong, Australia. The victory successfully defended the trophy the team originally won in Manchester four years prior.
Masterplan and Aggressive Mindset
BBC News reported that head coach Tom Coyd implemented a four-year plan focused on an aggressive approach rather than playing defensively. Throughout the tournament in Australia, the squad utilized team meetings featuring a physical ladder where a rung was spray-painted gold following every win. Players also framed their strategy around concepts like lifeguards and sharks, avoiding the word “defend” entirely since lifting the trophy in November 2022.
Coyd stated, “I think your reality is the story that you tell yourself. And the narrative that we felt might be upon us coming in was that we are here to defend and we are here to retain.” He added that his squad maintained a hunter’s mindset to attack when they lacked possession and act like a shark smelling blood when they had the ball. The team demonstrated this positive intent throughout the group stage and semi-finals by scoring 386 points while conceding only 68.
Overcoming France in the Final
Playing approximately 70 miles south of Sydney where the inaugural competition took place in 2008, England initially established a lead before falling behind 22-10 to Cyril Torres’ French side. However, tries from Jack Brown and Rob Hawkins—who was recently named the world’s best player for a third time—helped swing the momentum back before halftime.
During a short interval huddle, captain Lewis King provided calm leadership that steadied the team. Coyd praised his captain, noting that King lives and breathes steadiness and composure, serving as the unquestioned talisman for the group. Joe Coyd, the head coach’s younger brother who scored four of England’s nine tries, noted that the squad required no massive rousing speeches due to their mutual confidence and rigorous internal challenges.
Jack Brown, competing in his fifth World Cup and securing his third winner’s medal, explained that the players possessed full confidence and recognized the abundance of leaders within the team. Tom Coyd praised the rapid development of his 10 players, describing their execution in the final as outstanding against a hungrier-than-ever French team.
