IRL Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup : Pool A

Fri 30th October 2026   - KO  13:00 - WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong , Australia

Ireland

110

FT

10

Half Time
66 - 0

United States of America

Tries

Joseph CALCOTT (5,13,25,30,37,41,45)
Cian HORGAN (9,11,17,37,41,45)
Toby BURTON-CARTER (20,22)
Thomas MARTIN (65,70,75)
Jack MANGAN (71)
Peter JOHNSTON (79)

Antoine GRAY (2)
Jesse LIND (63)

Goals

Cian HORGAN (1/1)
Peter JOHNSTON (10/11)
Phil ROBERTS (5/6)

William JOHNSTONE (1/2)

Match Preview | Ireland face USA in Wheelchair World Cup opener

Eighteen years after the inaugural tournament in Australia, the IRL Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup returns this Friday, with Ireland facing the USA in the opening group-stage match.

Both sides reached the group stages in 2022 but failed to progress further, and will be aiming to go one better this time.

The match takes place at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, kicking off at 1pm local time.

Ireland (squad): Joseph CALCOTT, Melanie GRIFFITH, Cian HORGAN, Toby BURTON-CARTER, Peter JOHNSTON, Thomas MARTIN, Phil ROBERTS, Jack MANGAN, James MCCARTHY, Maurice NOONAN

United States of America (squad): Jesse LIND, Mack JOHNSON, Jabrier LEE, William JOHNSTONE, Andy KINGSLEY, Antoine GRAY, Freddie SMITH III, Brent HAWKINS, Morrell FOX, Cole WOOTEN

29 October 2026
1 Cian HORGAN
Starting Player
Jabrier LEE 1
2 Toby BURTON-CARTER
Starting Player
William JOHNSTONE 2
3 Melanie GRIFFITH
Starting Player
Mack JOHNSON 3
4 Peter JOHNSTON
Starting Player
Andy KINGSLEY 4
5 Joseph CALCOTT
Starting Player
Jesse LIND 5
6 Thomas MARTIN
Int1
Freddie SMITH III 6
7 Phil ROBERTS
Int2
Cole WOOTEN 7
8 James MCCARTHY
Int3
Brent HAWKINS 8
9 Jack MANGAN
Reserve
Antoine GRAY 9
 

Ireland made a sensational start to their 2026 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup campaign, producing a dominant attacking display to defeat the United States 110-10 in their opening Pool A fixture in Wollongong.

The Irish side were in control from the opening exchanges, showcasing their attacking quality and clinical finishing to run in 20 tries and establish a commanding 66-6 half-time advantage.

Joseph Calcott led the way for Ireland with an outstanding seven-try performance, crossing in the fifth, 13th, 25th, 30th, 37th, 41st and 45th minutes.

Cian Horgan was equally influential, touching down six times, while Tom Martin added a hat-trick. Toby Burton-Carter contributed two tries, with Peter Johnston Jnr also getting on the scoresheet.

Ireland's attacking pressure proved relentless, with the side adding a further 46 points in the second half to complete a remarkable opening-round victory.

The USA battled hard and managed two tries of their own, with Antoine Gray crossing in the second minute and Jesse Lind adding a second in the 63rd minute. However, they struggled to contain Ireland's pace and attacking combinations throughout the contest.

Ireland finished with 15 successful conversions, taking their final tally to 110 points. Calcott's seven-try contribution earned him Player of the Match honours.

The result gives Ireland an ideal start to Pool A, which also features defending champions England and Wales. Their next challenge will be to build on this performance as they look to secure a place in the tournament's semi-finals.

30 October 2026