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The Saturday Wrap: Wheelchair World Cup
A fine captain’s knock by Australia’s Bayley McKenna helped the Wheelaroos overwhelm Tasman rivals New Zealand 102-14, while France seem determined to reverse their runners-up finish from the last World Cup.
McKenna’s quick thinking, crisp passing and accurate goal-kicking contributed to his personal tally of 44 points. He was Australia’s top try scorer with four and landed 14 goals from 15 attempts, which all helped in being awarded Player of the Match.
The French fell agonisingly short to England in 2022 losing 28-24 but have started their 2026 campaign with a fair bit of spice 114-0 over Scotland scoring 20 tries.
France whacked the Scots 80-15 in their pool game at the 2022 World Cup and today they reached that total with 30 minutes still left on the clock.
Dislocations, explosions and big hits aplenty: Welcome to wheelchair rugby league
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Bayley McKenna, the captain of Australia’s wheelchair rugby league team, has a particularly grisly way of selling his sport. Basically, he says, spectators at the World Cup should expect gladiatorial-level gore.
“They can expect big hits, finger dislocations, wrist dislocations, shoulder dislocations, tyre explosions, massive, massive bangs and a lot of skill to be able to push your chair, catch the ball, put it on your lap and straighten up and balance up on one wheel,” he said. “It is brutal.”
The Australian side is aiming to improve on their best finish – as runners-up in the inaugural tournament in 2008 – when they kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Wollongong on Saturday.
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The 'stigma' of being a non-disabled player in elite wheelchair sport
Bayley McKenna will make history as the Whellaroos' first non-disabled captain at the 2026 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup. (Getty Images for RLWC: Henry Browne)
There are few athletes in world sport quite like Bayley McKenna.
Shaggy-haired and expressive, he is the kind of player highlights packages are built around, and at 26, he is the youngest-ever captain of Australia's wheelchair rugby league team.
But what really sets him apart is his status as a non-disabled athlete in elite wheelchair sport, with international wheelchair rugby league allowing participation from both people with disability and non-disabled players.
Leading out the Wheelaroos at the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup, starting tomorrow in Wollongong, will undoubtedly be a pinch-me moment for the Townsville world-beater.
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