England reached the final of the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup by defeating Wales 125-22, setting up a rematch of 2017’s final with France.
England and France will go head-to-head on Friday evening at Manchester Central for what will be a third successive World Cup final between the two nations. France have narrowly won both of those meetings, 42-40 (2013) and 38-34 (2017).
Captain Tom Halliwell spoke after the semi-final win and admitted that winning the one trophy that has so far eluded him provides extra motivation to make it third time lucky against France.
He was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference: “It’s the one trophy I have not won yet, I’ve won everything else in the game apart from a World Cup.
“That’s extra motivation for me, but I’m just privileged to do it with a bunch of staff and players that we have got.
“I think this team is special, it’s very special, I love all the blokes that are involved in there and everyone that’s been involved in the set-up.
“It feels good, we set out a plan to get to a World Cup final and hopefully win it and we have ticked every box so far, but we have a big week of preparation to come, up against a good France side.”
Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup Final
This will be the fourth Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final, with England maintaining their ever-present record having won the first holding of the tournament in 2008, beating Australia 44-12 in that year’s final. France is where wheelchair rugby league originated from and is the only country to whom England has fallen to defeat.
Though France has won the last two finals, it is England who was victorious the last time the two teams met, winning 62-48 in a friendly back in June of this year. Of course, that will account for nothing heading to Manchester with the sport’s biggest prize up for grabs.
Seb Bechara was part of the England side in 2017 that saw a two-point lead cruelly wiped out by a late Nicola Claussels score and he admits that he wants to put right the wrongs from five years ago.
He told BBC Sport: “I’ve been waiting for this moment for five years.
“Back then we led for so long but France got that late score – it was heartbreaking. But we are there again and want to do our best and make everyone proud.”
England coach Tom Coyd has been in the hot seat since 2020 and as such does not bear the scars of the previous finals, but is under no illusion of the magnitude of the challenge that is before him and his players.
“England against France is as big as it gets in wheelchair rugby league,” Coyd was quoted as saying by BBC.
“They will fancy themselves 100% but we think we have it in us to beat them on the big stage in front of a home crowd and we are well placed.”
The Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final between England and France kicks off on Friday 18 November at 7.30pm, with the match broadcast live on BBC.
