England retained the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup on Friday 13 November, beating France 50-38 in a thrilling final in Wollongong, Australia. Joe Coyd scored four tries for the defending champions, who led 28-22 at half-time and held off a determined French fightback in the second half.

The victory makes England back-to-back world champions, following their win over France in the 2022 final. It is England's third Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup title. All five finals in the competition's history have been contested by England and France, with France winning in 2013 and 2017, according to Sky Sports.

Coyd set the tone early, scoring twice in the opening minutes to give England a 10-0 lead. France refused to be overawed, however, and hit back with four unanswered tries through Jeremy Bourson, Leo Hivernat, Damien Dore and Florian Guttadoro to move ahead and seize control of the match.

Coyd stars as England fight back before half-time

England's response was led by Coyd, who completed his hat-trick before the break. Rob Hawkins and Jack Brown also crossed for tries in a dramatic end to the first half, with Brown's effort described by Sky Sports as a contender for try of the tournament after he grounded a Hawkins kick. England went into half-time ahead 28-22.

Love Rugby League reported that France had opened up a 22-10 advantage during their first-half surge, making England's recovery to lead at the interval all the more impressive. The defending champions had travelled to Australia as favourites, but France showed once again why the two sides have produced such close finals.

The previous meeting between the sides in a World Cup final, in Manchester in 2022, was decided by only four points. This time the margin was wider, but the contest followed a familiar pattern, with neither side able to pull clear for long.

France push the champions all the way

France struck shortly after half-time through Dany Denuwelaere, only for Hawkins to respond immediately with what Love Rugby League reported was his 21st try of the World Cup. Coyd then used his strength to force his way over for a fourth try, before Denuwelaere answered again to leave France trailing by four points with just over 15 minutes remaining.

Brown then broke through the French defence on a strong line, and his second try of the half completed his hat-trick. With Nathan Collins adding the conversion, England led 50-34 with 10 minutes to play, according to Sky Sports.

France kept fighting to the end, and Denuwelaere completed his own hat-trick in the final minute. It proved only a consolation, however, as England stayed solid defensively to close out the game and retain the trophy.

Back-to-back champions

Speaking after the victory, Brown said he was proud of the team's performance. "I am feeling amazingly proud," he told Sky Sports. "I am feeling a bit out of body at the moment. It was an incredible display and it was just so much fun playing with the guys. We said we had to work hard for each other and that is what we did today."

Brown, who was playing in his third World Cup win with England, said the scale of the achievement only sank in late in the match. "There were five minutes left and I looked up and I went 'damn are we that far ahead'," he said. "Five minutes to go was when I saw the light at the end of the tunnel to slow down the game and control the ending."

Head coach Tom Coyd's side defended the title they won on home soil in 2022, and the win underlines England's position as the leading force in wheelchair rugby league. France, beaten finalists for a third time, will take encouragement from pushing the champions so close again, but England leave Wollongong as world champions for a second tournament in a row.