Cyril Torres has won the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup twice as a player. Now the France head coach believes his side have the quality to regain the trophy when they head to Australia later this year.

FRANCE head coach Cyril Torres believes that his side can win the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in Australia later this year.

The French were beaten in the last Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup Final back in 2022 in Manchester in a dramatic match against England, but since then have won two of their three encounters against their old rivals.

However, they did not take to the court at all in 2025, concentrating on training and their domestic game before making a comeback in July, after a 20-month absence, with a bang, hammering a near full-strength Ireland side 106-16 in Perpignan.

It was Ireland’s heaviest defeat in four years, since the 121-0 loss to England in the last World Cup. The Irish had enjoyed three successive Celtic Cup wins since then, so they travelled to France in good form as their hosts registered a century for the eighth time in their history.

The same two sides then met again a day later, with the score a much more competitive 66-36 win for France. However, Torres fielded a completely different side in each match.

This year’s Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup will be the fifth staging, with France and England tied on two trophy wins each. England won the first in 2008, whilst France won successive World Cups in 2013 and 2017, with Torres playing in both finals.

“We are preparing well. I know that we are ranked behind two strong teams, England and Australia,” Torres said.

“Australia because they are hosting the World Cup and England because they are the holders.

“The French are behind, but we are ready to work on this to have a chance of winning the World Cup.”

There are just eight sides in this year’s World Cup, but Torres hopes that one day there will be more competitors.

“In wheelchair rugby league, we have a great game, and the World Cup is a big opportunity to show the sport off. We’re looking forward to taking on Scotland, New Zealand and Australia in the group matches and I’m sure they’ll all be good games.

“I have good hopes for the future, that we will not just have eight sides. I hope for 12, 14, or 16 teams as the game continues to grow.”

Torres was pleased with how his side performed against the Irish, especially their competitive nature in the second game. Playing two different sides will have given him a good indication of how his squad looks ahead of October.

“I think Ireland are a good team,” he said. “I don’t think they had the best of days on the Saturday. It was strange for them, as the weather was far too hot that day, and we could see it affecting them.

“Sunday was a different day and a different team, and they were able to cope a bit more, and they gave us a very good game. I can see that they are an excellent team.

“It has been very valuable for us and a big opportunity in terms of our World Cup preparations. I know my squad for the World Cup, and the plan now is that the players have three weeks off and then, in August and September, train three days a week in readiness.”

The French domestic season has now concluded, so Torres can completely concentrate on his national side. It will come as no surprise to anyone who follows the game in France that the title was again won by Catalans Dragons, who registered their seventh successive Grand Final win by beating SO Avignon 67-63 in a dramatic match in June.

It was the end of an unbeaten season for Catalans after winning all ten of their pool matches, then the semi-final and final. The French league was split into two pools of six, based on location, with each side facing the others home and away before the play-offs.

Catalans have won 11 of the 13 Grand Finals held to date. They’ve also won the Challenge Cup Finals in England, in 2023 and 2024, but have since chosen to remain in the French competition in the lead-up to the World Cup.

“We had a very good domestic competition this year,” Torres said. “We started in January and ran for six months.

“We have finished now, as all the sides in the Elite League are ready to support the French team, so now we have the opportunity to prepare for the World Cup. Players have been given time away from their clubs to train with the national team. This is important for the French squad.

“We will have another domestic tournament in October and November, around Perpignan, Montauban and Avignon.

“We will have four or five teams invited to take part, so players can continue enjoying the game.”

The Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup is now less than 100 days away, with the tournament being played entirely at WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, situated behind one of the goals at WIN Stadium, home of the St George Illawarra Dragons, just 90 minutes south of Sydney.

The tournament kicks off with Ireland v USA on 30th October as part of a unique quadruple-header. England v Wales follows immediately afterwards, before the action transfers to the outdoor arena, where England face Samoa in the women’s competition, followed by Papua New Guinea in the men’s.

France kick off their tournament the following day against Scotland in the opening Pool B fixture, before Australia take on New Zealand.

“For me it’s not just about winning the World Cup,” Torres said. “It’s about performing well as a team, playing well for the French Federation.

“All the English and Australians know about my passion for the competition, as I won the World Cup twice as a player.

“But now this is another challenge and I’m ready to give my best for my team and hopefully coach the players to win the World Cup, and I think we can do it.”

First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 523 (August 2026)