England’s Wheelchair Ashes match-winner Joe Coyd is now targeting a place in the World Cup side as he looks forward to a unique Rugby League World Cup triple-header.
ON Friday, 30th October 2026, for the first time ever, the England men’s, women’s and wheelchair sides all play at the same arena in World Cup matches.
That’s the date when the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup launches at WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong with Ireland v USA kicking things off at 1pm local time, 11 hours ahead of the UK.
The whole of the Wheelchair World Cup is at the same arena, and straight after this opener, England kick off their defence when they take on Wales (kick-off 3.30pm).
All of this happens behind the goal at WIN Stadium, the beautiful outdoor arena, where England face Samoa in their final Women’s World Cup group stage match at 5.50pm before England v Papua New Guinea men conclude the day at 8.05pm.
“That’s really exciting,” Ashes winner Joe Coyd said.
“I’ve met some of the women and some of the men, and they’re all great people, and I know they’re aligned to how we act and how we think and what we want and, and that’s to be the best.
“I know the men will be hurting from the Ashes tour and I’m sure they’ll get out there with a point to prove.
“I watch the women’s game a lot, and there’s some great people in it. Some of the things they do are amazing and they’re making massive leaps every year. It will be special to watch both games after ours.
“The venue we’ve been given looks absolutely incredible. It might be the best that wheelchair rugby league ever been played in. There were some special venues in 2022, but this one looks as good, if not slightly better.
“Because Australia is so big, having the whole tournament all in one place is pretty special as well. In 2017 in France, we were all staying in the same place, but we travelled around to different venues. We had the buzz off every other team, and we’d remember that we were playing them tomorrow, so you make sure you don’t say ’hello’ to them as you’re getting lunch for example!”
The Wheelchair World Cup has been split into two groups with England in Pool A alongside Wales, Ireland and USA, with Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and France In Pool B.
“I think we’ll have three really tough games,” Coyd said. “Wales are our next door neighbours and always give us a battle. I’ve known their head coach Alan Caron for a long time and I know he’ll be working hard with his side.
“Ireland have come on leaps and bounds over the last two years with some special players. Joe Calcott has been pulling up trees for Halifax and on the international stage.
“The USA are kind of an unknown, but they’re massive with disability sport. When there’s 350 million people, I’m sure there’s at least five or six that can play Wheelchair Rugby League well. We didn’t get to play them in 2022 so it’s good we’ve new opposition this time.
“We’ve no doubt that it will be a really tough group to get out of, and that’s what we want, and just like going back to the Ashes tour, even though it was tense and it was tough, we beat a great Australia side.”
The Ashes win late in 2025 was particularly special for Coyd as he scored the winning try that secured the 2-0 whitewash against the Wheelaroos on the Gold Coast.
“It was all kind of surreal really,” he said. “I don’t think it hit me until I got home to England. The lads had a tough game, it was one of my favourite games to have ever been a part of – proper physical rugby league.
“Mason Billington did some great work and threw the ball at me. I knew there was no-one in front of me and I was thinking, ‘don’t drop it, don’t drop it, don’t drop it’. It was all great work from the lads inside me and it was a special moment to be part of.
“Hopefully I’ll be on the plane again in October. Australia is just amazing, especially when you go in November. Coming from England, you get there and it’s 30 degrees and there’s a beach around every corner.
“Touring Australia in an Ashes tour is not far off a World Cup. It’s neck and neck and as tours go. The facilities up at the Gold Coast where we played our two Test matches were great, but during the whole tour we moved around a lot. It was sort of land, train, play, train, play, travel, so it was full on. It was a privilege to be in them.”
Coyd had been playing rugby league in one form or another for over 20 years, starting off with his local club Medway Dragons in the running game. After attending a taster session for wheelchair rugby league in 2011, he was converted. In 2012, the Medway Dragons Wheelchair side was formed and a year later, he was playing for England in the World Cup.
Now, 12 years on, and at London Roosters, he’s won a World Cup, an Ashes series and last season, took the highest individual honour in the British game by being awarded “Wheels of Steel”.
“I don’t often win individual accolades and that’s not why I play,” he admits. “I play because I like to compete and because I love the sport. I love my teammates, and I know I wouldn’t be on that stage receiving that without everyone at London Roosters.”
The Roosters were runners up to Halifax Panthers in everything last season, but Coyd admits that it was still a good year for the side. But they now go into 2026 without their head coach, his brother Tom, who has relocated north for a full-time job with the RFL.
“We’ve only been going for four years but we’ve always fallen at that final hurdle.
“We’re quite a small club, we don’t have a foundation, we haven’t got a massive sponsor or someone throwing money at us.
“So, to start with, Lewis (King), Mason (Billington) and Jason (Owen) and I are all going cover Tom’s role. He’s done such a good job, and I know how much time and effort it takes.
“Lewis is England captain, Jason’s been around the sport for 15 years and Mason played rugby union growing up and has a great mind.
“I’m sure we’ll be in good hands and we’ve got great volunteers and staff and all the players will step up. It’s an exciting opportunity for sure.”
First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 516 (January 2026)