World Cup 2026 : Round Three (Wheelchair)

The final pool round where no surprises were expected or delivered.  

England 68-32 Ireland. After a quarter of the match gone, Ireland had a surprising 14-0 lead and shortly after 20-4. England came back to lead 22-20 at the break. 

Wales 92-18 USA. Wales led 54-0 at half time and it was looking ominous for the USA. To their credit, they fought back and only lost the second half 18-38. That will give the US players something to build on.

France 69-34 Australia. After 30 minutes it was 18-18 and 30-22 at half time. France gradually gained ascendency to pull away. I thought the Australian team was excessively niggly. 

Scotland 62-18 NZ. It was 12-12 after 25 minutes but it was 32-12 at the break. Scotland went on to record their first ever WC win in their 12th match. 

The final group placings are below. England, Ireland, France and Australia advance. 

For video match highlights and post match interviews, simply click here. 

World Cup 2026 : Round Two (Wheelchair)

This mode of the code is the only one to have midweek matches. Be prepared for some lopsided results.

Ireland 68-28 Wales. Ireland had a 20-12 lead going in at the break, but Ireland pulled away in the second half. Ireland is ranked third in the world, Wales fifth.

England 134-0 USA. England is the top ranked nation and the USA is eighth. England took a 58-0 lead at half time. I wonder what the USA is learning with thrashings like that?

France 120-10 NZ. France is ranked number two and NZ ninth. At half time, the score was 74-0, so the second half was more even. 

Australia 104-24 Scotland. Australia led 44-12 when it came time to swap ends. The second half was more one sided. Australia is the fouth ranked nation in the world and Scotland sixth.

Spain is ranked seventh and the highest ranked nation not at the 2026 World Cup.

For video match highlights, simply click here. 

World Cup 2026 : Round Three (Mens)

The final group round, with the top from each group progressing and the rest on the plane home.

England 34-12 PNG. England needed to win by a large margin and raced to a 22-0 at a point a minute lead but perhaps that early success worked against them as points dried up. 

PNG came back and England defended that well. Good defending isn't scoring much needed points and two wins from three wasn't good enough, thanks to an unusual format. 

New Zealand 78-0 Fiji. Fiji really pushed Australia in Round 2 but the Kiwis were on fire and raced to a 48-0 half time lead. Some of the Kiwi players were disgracefully aggressive. Unnecessary and a blight on a fine performance. 

Australia  66:6 Cook Is. In what was a formality, Australia got to a 28-6 lead at half time against a spirited Kukis side. The second half was more like what was expected. 

Lebanon 24;20 France. France have had a tough tournament but only trailed 6-8 lead at the turn around. It was 20-20 at full tand lebanon snatched a charge down try. I thought it was tough on France who seemed to have the better of the game, but not the calls.

Tonga 20:18 Samoa. Tonga led just 8-4 at half time, no good for England. Samoa came back to lead 18-14 but Tonga scraped home by millimetres. 

For video match highlights and post match interviews, simply click here.