England Wheelchair Rugby League Team Crushes Wales 98-18 in World Cup Opener

Defending champions England made a thunderous start to their Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup title defense, demolishing Wales 98-18 in their opening match in Australia. The emphatic victory, which saw England run in a staggering 17 tries, immediately establishes them as the team to beat in the tournament. Key players such as captain Tom Halliwell and star attacker Jack Brown were instrumental, consistently breaching the Welsh defense with speed and precision. For Wales, the heavy defeat is a harsh reality check, but they showed glimpses of resilience with three tries of their own. The match, held in front of an enthusiastic crowd, highlighted the growing popularity and competitive intensity of wheelchair rugby league on the world stage. England's ruthless performance sends a clear message to their rivals, including hosts Australia and traditional foes France, that they are determined to retain their crown. With such a dominant start, England have laid down a marker, but the tournament is long, and the pressure will only mount as they advance toward the knockout stages.