Key Highlights
- England will face France in the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final in Wollongong, Australia.
- The final will be shown live and free-to-air on BBC iPlayer from 08:45 GMT on Friday.
- BBC Sport will also provide live text coverage, while BBC Radio 5 Live will cover the men’s and women’s finals on Sunday.
England and France Meet Again in Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup Final
England’s bid to retain the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup will be broadcast live and free-to-air on the BBC on Friday. The final against France, England’s great rivals, will take place in Wollongong, Australia, with kick-off scheduled for 08:45 GMT. Viewers will be able to watch the match on BBC iPlayer.
England defeated France 28-24 in the 2022 final in Manchester, securing the title after a dramatic late try from Tom Halliwell. The latest meeting continues a long-running rivalry between the two teams, who have contested the past three Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup finals.
France won the 2013 final 42-40 in Gillingham before defeating England 38-34 in Perpignan in 2017. England then reclaimed the trophy with its four-point victory in Manchester in November 2022, setting up another high-stakes final between the two sides in Australia.
BBC Sport Coverage of the World Cup Finals
England head coach Tom Coyd said: “To be flying the flag for England at this late stage of the Rugby League World Cup is an honour for us and we hope we can keep doing the country proud on Friday.”
In addition to the live stream, fans can follow England’s final through BBC Sport’s live text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app. The coverage will provide updates throughout the match for audiences following the contest online.
BBC Radio 5 Live will also broadcast live coverage of the men’s and women’s finals on Sunday, when the tournament concludes in Brisbane. Australia and New Zealand will face each other in both matches. The BBC Sport website and app will provide live text coverage of the men’s and women’s finals, with digital clip highlights scheduled to be available online later on Sunday.
Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, said: “Sport is at its very best when it gives audiences moments they can share, and an England team playing in a World Cup final is exactly that. “Bringing audiences the biggest homegrown sporting moments is at the heart of BBC Sport, and we’re proud to bring rugby fans England’s final with France for the world title on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.”
Why This Matters
The England-France final is the latest chapter in one of the defining rivalries in wheelchair rugby league, with the teams meeting in three successive World Cup finals. The BBC’s free-to-air coverage gives audiences access to England’s attempt to defend its title, while the wider BBC Sport and BBC Radio 5 Live schedule will cover the tournament’s final men’s and women’s fixtures in Brisbane.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the England versus France Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final?
The final will kick off at 08:45 GMT on Friday in Wollongong, Australia.
Where can I watch England’s Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final?
The match will be shown live and free-to-air on BBC iPlayer, with live text coverage available on the BBC Sport website and app.
Will the BBC cover the men’s and women’s finals?
Yes. BBC Radio 5 Live will provide live coverage of both finals on Sunday, while the BBC Sport website and app will offer live text coverage and digital clip highlights later that day.
