England got their Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a 38-8 win over Australia. Joe Coyd, Jack Brown and Nathan Collins scored two tries each as the home side made an early mark at London’s Copper Box Arena. England, winners in 2008 and two-time beaten finalists, are favorites for the title along with holders France. Lewis King scored on his World Cup debut, while Collins added four goals. The sport, which bills itself as ‘wheelchair rugby league’, follows many of the principles of running and features a mixture of blistering tackles, brilliant ball handling, tough defence, skill, athleticism and speed. It also prides itself on having disabled and non-disabled players who can play in the same team at all levels, while male and female players can also line up together. In front of a record crowd for the sport of 3,033, Australia started the stronger and minutes after Diab Karim’s effort was disallowed, they forced a goal-line drop and a mistake by Rob Hawkins allowed Karim to slot in for the first score. England were patient as Australia dictated the game and on 19 minutes, Coyd, the brother of manager Tom, headed over. The try, combined with the introduction of Brown, one of two World Cup winners since 2008 still playing for England, gave them a spark and moments later a sweeping drive set up Coyd for his second try. Brown and Seb Bechara then began to make an impact on the game and with the Wheelaroos also conceding a penalty, the momentum was with England. Although they maintained their dominance with King and Collins adding to the scoring, there is plenty of room for improvement ahead of their next game against Spain on Sunday. “I think we busted a few cobwebs out there. They’re a special team, those boys,” man-of-the-match Brown told BBC Sport. “Australia showed real class out there but I think the England lads wanted it more. “After not playing for England for two years I was a bit worried about gelling with the lads but Tom trusted me with the process and to try and live up to the hype. “We’ve never had anything like this at a World Cup before. It’s a dream come true and it’s something really special.”
A “violent” sport finds an enthusiastic audience
Nathan Collins is playing in his second World Cup for England Although this is the fourth wheelchair competition, it is the first time it has been part of the main event of the Rugby League World Cup and those who watched the match on BBC Two were impressed with what was presented. “I’ve played Rugby League for years and taken some serious knocks. But this is brutal,” Adie Smithexternal-link said on Twitter. “Wheelchair rugby turned out to be one of the most genuinely entertaining sports I’ve ever watched,” said Elanor Banksexternal-link while Nathan Mattickexternal-link described it as “a fantastic advertisement for disability sport”. “How brilliant that this rugby league is leading the world cup of participation, men’s, women’s, physical disability and wheelchair at the same time,” @brayster72external-link added. “Not just a small northern sport” And former Leeds Rhinos star Rob Barrow is another transfer. In the opening game of the eight-team tournament, also in Group A, Theo Gonzalez finished with 25 points as Spain defeated Ireland 55-32. Although Phil Roberts, a World Cup winner with England in 2008, gave the Irish an early lead, the Spaniards quickly took control of the game, scoring 30 unanswered points in the first half. Ireland captain Peter Johnston Jr led his side with four tries and four goals but the Spanish side came out comfortable.
