England reached their fifth successive Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final after crushing Australia 86-18 in the semi-final in Wollongong, Australia. Rob Hawkins scored five tries and five conversions to secure a personal tally of 30 points as England prepared to face their traditional rivals, France.
A dominant semi-final performance
Speaking to BBC Sport after the match, Hawkins laughed when asked if he had been practising his dives, explaining that the spectacular athleticism was just off-the-cuff play. Teammate Nathan Collins, who provided many of the match’s kicks, praised Hawkins for making his bad kicks look good and sweeping up when needed. England scored 15 tries in total, highlighted by a long-range punt that Hawkins chased down to ground millimetres from the dead-ball line under pressure from Adam Tannock.
Despite the comprehensive victory, Hawkins rated the team’s performance at six or seven out of 10, stating that they still have room for improvement. He noted that the match was satisfying against a ruthless Australian team and a partisan crowd, expressing hope that their best performance would arrive on Friday. England are looking to defend the world title they won on home soil four years ago, following a narrow 28-24 victory against France in Manchester.
Preparation for the final against France
England will face France in the final at the WIN Entertainment Centre, continuing a history of tight World Cup encounters between the two nations. Previous finals saw France win 42-40 in Gillingham in 2013 and 38-34 in Perpignan in 2017. Collins told BBC Sport that England must stick to the process outlined by coach Tom Coyd to overcome the only other nation to win the world title.
Collins, 26, is a veteran preparing for his third World Cup final after overcoming the challenge of being told he was too small for running rugby league as a child. Reflecting on his career in the sport, Collins stated that it has given him a lease of life and allowed him to grow alongside the game. He also praised the wall of white-shirted England fans in the stadium and expressed hope for similar support in the final.
Looking ahead to the officiating, Hawkins noted that previous controversies involving referees, such as the suspension of 2022 final referee Laurent Abrial for unacceptable behavior and obscene gestures, are behind them. Hawkins stated that the referees will make their decisions on the day while the players focus on the game, adding that the officiating at the current World Cup has been superb.
The final between England and France will kick off at 08:45 GMT on Friday at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
