England, world number one and reigning champions, and second-ranked France have contested the past three Wheelchair World Cup finals, and the general expectation is that they will meet in this one too, after both won their groups with three wins out of three.

But Australia, fourth in the world, gave England two tough Tests in last autumn's Wheelchair Rugby League Ashes, leading in both games before Tom Coyd's side came back to secure two victories.

Ireland, third in the world, are in their first-ever Wheelchair semi-final.

In a mixed gender sport, they are the only team in the semi-finals with a woman in their squad - Melanie Griffith, a former motocross racer who was paralysed from the waist down in a race accident in 2022.

Image source, SWPix

Image source, SWPix

In some ways, wheelchair rugby league is the same as the running game. Teams of five players have six tackles to score.

Tackles on the ball carrier are made by pulling off a tag attached to each player's shirt.

A try scores four points, with two points for penalties and conversions, which are taken by punching the ball off a tee over the posts.

The game is played with an oval ball and lasts for 80 minutes, with a maximum of two non-disabled and three disabled players allowed on the field at any one time.

France v Ireland (06.15)

England v Australia (08.45)

Welcome to our live text coverage of today's semi-finals in the 2026 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.

England may have gone out in the group stages of the men's and women's tournaments, but the wheelchair team are looking strong as they aim to defend the world title won four years ago.

They face Australia, after France take on Ireland in what promises to be a tight and exciting encounter.