Summary

  • Use play icon at top of page to watch BBC Two & BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra coverage (UK only)

  • Tom Halliwell's second try with three minutes left gives England 28-24 win

  • Nicolas Clausells penalty had brought France level at 24-24 after Nathan Collins had given England two-point lead

  • Lionel Alazard's early penalty and try, plus Mostefa Abassi score, helped France to 14-12 half-time lead

  • Tom Halliwell and Jack Brown with England first-half scores

  • Lewis King and Brown again extended lead, but Gilles Clausells try and Nicolas Clausells penalty bought France level at 22-22

  • Get involved with #bbcrl

  1. England are world championspublished at 22:06 GMT 18 November 2022

    England are world championsImage source, Getty Images

    I'm going to leave you here. We have one final day of Rugby League World Cup action tomorrow with a double-header at Old Trafford for the men's and women's finals.

    Australia women face New Zealand live on BBC One from 13:15 GMT, before Australia men face Samoa on the same channel at 16:00 GMT.

    Make sure you join us again for two more thrilling contests.

    For now though, drink in England's superb performance to win the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.

    What. A. Night.

    Media caption,

    Halliwell scores England's winning try

  2. Postpublished at 22:01 GMT 18 November 2022

    FT: England 28-24 France

    Sylvain Crismanovich, France head coach, speaking to BBC Two: “Do you want the heartfelt response or the professional response? It was an exceptional England team – congratulations to England. But there was a lot of confusion around the refereeing.

    “The referee made the referee’s decisions, and we’ve got to go with those. But there’s an impact on the bodies of the players. Unfortunately, today, England went for the spectacle and the show rather than prioritising the disabled players.”

  3. Tears of joypublished at 21:58 GMT 18 November 2022

    FT: England 28-24 France

    FT: England 28-24 FranceImage source, get
    FT: England 28-24 FranceImage source, Getty Images
    FT: England 28-24 FranceImage source, Getty Images
  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:56 GMT 18 November 2022

    Tweet using #bbcrl

    Rob: Amazing game. Genuinely well thought out and exciting sport. I would absolutely pay to watch it. Hopefully bigger venue next time! Well done England and all involved in the competition. Excellent work!

  5. Postpublished at 21:54 GMT 18 November 2022

    FT: England 28-24 France

    England head coach Tom Coyd, speaking to BBC Two: "I was crying like a baby. I don't know what to say. We knew we were going to win that game by two or four points. We said that the whole time.

    "I'm just so proud of the guys and this crowd, and everyone for getting behind wheelchair rugby league and England rugby league. We just deserve it.

    "There were so many fantastic performances. Tom Halliwell scored two 'ice in his veins' tries. Nathan Collins came on and made a massive impact. Joe Coyd led from the front. Jack Brown and Seb Bachara were brilliant. Lewis King was an absolute pot of gold. I don't know what to say. I'm so pleased.

    "I cannot fathom what's happening right now. I'm trying to take it all in. Wheelchair rugby league is going to explode, so get down to your nearest club, get in a chair - disabled, non-disabled, male, female - just come down, play this game, and this could be you in a few years."

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:52 GMT 18 November 2022

    Tweet using #bbcrl

    Tom: Absolutely over the moon about the win tonight. @RLWC2021, external CHAMPIONS!! The game was hard fought and well deserved. Absolute heroes all of them, must be @bbcsport, external personality of the year team winners?!

    Michelle: Absolutely brilliant England RLWC champions fantastic match

    Jay: Absolutely brilliant England. Congratulations to all the team. What a fantastic sport this is.

  7. Postpublished at 21:50 GMT 18 November 2022

    FT: England 28-24 France

    Martin Norris
    Former England captain on BBC Two

    What I personally want is these people who have come down today to get in touch with their local club. We need volunteers, we need coaches, we need new players. Get involved. Anybody can play this sport. And if there isn't a club, make one. The RFL will back you. Get in touch with them. Just get it off the ground and let's keep this legacy going.

    What I want to make sure we don't do is forget about it for three years and then we're back here having the same conversation. We'll keep banging the drum, we'll keep pushing it forward, and we'll make sure we have double the number of teams by the time we play the first game in France.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:48 GMT 18 November 2022

    Tweet using #bbcrl

    Claire: What a game! Loved that. Fully deserved England win

    Piyal: What a match. Brutal. Congrats England!!!

    Robbie: ENGLAND. WORLD CHAMPIONS.

  9. Postpublished at 21:46 GMT 18 November 2022

    FT: England 28-24 France

    England captain Tom Halliwell speaking to BBC Two:

    "We've all been working for this for five years. Everyone has been trying to get better and better. Tonight's performance put it to where we're at. We're the world's best.

    "When you have these players out there is makes my job easy. I just have to play my game and they do the rest.

    "If I'm being honest I was looking to pass. I saw his outside shoulder and saw I could get through. It was written in the stars, a home World Cup in front of these fans.

    "At half-time we said we'd win this game by four points.

    "This is what it's all about. Rugby League is a community sport and wheelchair rugby league is no exception. Everybody can play this game and that's why I love it.

    "I'm forever grateful for this sport. Whatever I do in my life now I'll do for this sport. I'm forever in debt.

    "We've won it."

  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:44 GMT 18 November 2022

    Tweet using #bbcrl

    Gemma: Oh my goodness! What a fantastic match! Congratulations @EnglandRL, external World Champions!

    Kat: WOW... WOW... WOW!! What an incredible final. That was absolutely epic. A beautiful mix of skill, brutal hits, team work... just fantastic! Well played England well done team and support staff

    Rich: What an amazing final. Never watched Wheelchair Rugby League before but that was an absolute exhibition of skill and fitness Well done England!

  11. Postpublished at 21:42 GMT 18 November 2022

    FT: England 28-24 France

    Martin Norris
    Former England captain on BBC Two

    France have set the bar where we needed to get to and we've been chasing them for years. You've to work so hard for every single ball against them. They're a phenomenal team, but for me, England are on the up. England's average age is 26-27, France is in their mid-30s, so fingers crossed at the next World Cup, we'll be number one again.

  12. Postpublished at 21:40 GMT 18 November 2022

    FT: England 28-24 France

    Freya Levy
    Former England international on BBC Two

    It's hard to put this into context. The first wheelchair rugby league game in this country was played in a car park, and it wasn't that long ago! And now we've won the World Cup in front of 4,500 people, and everyone watching at home. The stage we've put this sport on... it's just a massive thank you to every who has made this possible, because this is such a huge moment.

  13. The winning momentpublished at 21:38 GMT 18 November 2022

    FT: England 28-24 France

    I could watch this all night:

    Media caption,

    Halliwell scores England's winning try

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:37 GMT 18 November 2022

    Tweet using #bbcrl

    Mark: What a journey this has been. Not just for the players and the team around them. For everyone has bought into this sport

  15. Postpublished at 21:36 GMT 18 November 2022

    FT: England 28-24 France

    Martin Norris
    Former England captain on BBC Two

    It means everything. It's so hard to put into words what it feels like. To be able to say you're the best in the world is a feeling like nothing. Unless you experience it, it's impossible to understand what it means. It's just incredible. I'm strugglin gto keep it together, to be honest.

  16. Postpublished at 21:34 GMT 18 November 2022

    FT: England 28-24 France

    Tom Halliwell raises the trophy and is greeted by a wall of noise and confetti.

    A home World Cup. It's official.

  17. Postpublished at 21:33 GMT 18 November 2022

    England are about to lift the cup.....

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:33 GMT 18 November 2022

    Tweet using #bbcrl

    Ed: Ok, #WheelchairRugbyLeague, external is my new favourite sport. Get in England! Such a gripping watch, and the level of emotion and camaraderie and love pouring out of these guys right now is life affirming to see. #SPOTY, external Team of the Year?

  19. Postpublished at 21:32 GMT 18 November 2022

    FT: England 28-24 France

    England's players are given huge cheers as Clare Balding hands out the winners medals.

  20. Postpublished at 21:31 GMT 18 November 2022

    FT: England 28-24 France

    Freya Levy
    Former England international on BBC Two

    I'm so emotional. You can see what it means to the players. This is everything they've ever wanted and deserved. What a moment this is. History in the making. The moment the nation fell in love with wheelchair rugby league, and the moment England brought the cup home.