RLWC21: Inaugural Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup (PDRL) kicks off

The first ever Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup kicked off on Sunday, 23 October in Warrington with England getting a big 58 - 6 win against Australia and Wales securing a late 28 - 26 win against New Zealand.

🔥 Outrageous!

There was also a cracker between Wales and New Zealand – with Wales getting a late 26-28 win, thanks to a frankly ridiculous dummy from Paul Jones.#RLWC2021 | @WalesRugbyL pic.twitter.com/XK1N5Qm46M

— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 24, 2022

Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL) is an adapted version of rugby league for players with a physical disability.



Squad



Australia🇦🇺


Head coach: Brendon Pelligrino


Kane Ridgley (Gold Coast Titans)


Jonathan Smith


Bryce Crane
Karel Dekker (Gold Coast Titans)
Kyle Lloyd
Dean Clark (Gold Coast Titans)
Hudson Wicks (Gold Coast Titans)
Stephen Hendry (Gold Coast Titans)
Harry Rodgers (Gold Coast Titans)
Adam Hills (Warrington Wolves)
Dylan Jobson (Gold Coast Titans)
Richard Muff (Gold Coast Titans)
Peter Mitchell
George Tonna
Edward Sharp
Rylan Gaudron
Geoff Clarke
Fady Taiba
Rylee Lowe
Michael Baker (Gold Coast Titans)

England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Head coach: Shaun Briscoe
Darren Dean (Wakefield Trinity)
Ben Seward (Wigan Warriors)
Scott Gobin (Leeds Rhinos)
Callum Parkinson (Wakefield Trinity)
Nicholas Leigh (Leeds Rhinos)
Adam Fleming (Wakefield Trinity)
Sam Zellar (Leeds Rhinos)
Adam Morris (Warrington Wolves)
Jamie Barnett (Warrington Wolves)
Ben Nicholson (Wakefield Trinity)
Peter Clarke (Leeds Rhinos)
Harvey Redmonds (Leeds Rhinos)
Tommy Pouncey (Leeds Rhinos)
Tony Seward (Warrington Wolves)
Connor Lynes (Castlefield Tigers)
Nick Horner (Leeds Rhinos)
Mark Gummerson (Castlefield Tigers)
Mike Addison (Warrington Wolves)
Nick Kennedy (Castlefield Tigers)
John Clements (Wakefield Trinity

New Zealand 🇳🇿
Head coach: Ray Greaves
Harley Roach
Garry Kingi
Jeremy Hendrix Harris
Max Walsh
Shane Culling
Timothy Ragg
Kent Stroobant
Jed Stone
Shane Ratahi
Mal Davis
Matthew Williams
Michael Kulene
Daley Manu
Che Fornusek
Philip Milne
Roko Nailolo
Matthew Slade
Delta Taeauga

Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Head coach: Craig Fisher
Leif Thobroe (Salford Red Devils PDRL)
Robert Carpenter (Cardiff Chiefs MARU)
Nick Harris (Port Talbot Panthers MARU)
Gareth Sullivan
Tyma Hughes (Salford Red Devils PDRL)
Isaac Pickett (Leeds Rhinos PDRL)
Morgan Jones (Salford Red Devils PDRL)
Daniel Shaw (Pembrokeshire Vikings MARU)
Connor Rice (Salford Red Devils PDRL)
Stewart Newton (Salford Red Devils PDRL)
Justin Martin (Port Talbot Panthers MARU)
Dylan Hughes (Leeds Rhinos PDRL)
Ben Lewis (Salford Red Devils PDRL)
Paul Jones (Salford Red Devils PDRL)
Chris Young (Leeds Rhinos PDRL)
Chris Spriggs (Llanelli Warriors MARU)

The PDRL World Cup kicked off in style yesterday!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 58-6 🇦🇺
🇳🇿 26-28 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Entry is free at Victoria Park for tomorrow's Round 2 fixtures. The action starts from 2pm pic.twitter.com/JSmNcU2P2u

— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) October 24, 2022

Fixtures
Tuesday, 25 October
Wales v England (14:00 BST)
Australia v New Zealand (16:30 BST)

Friday, 28 October
England v New Zealand (17:00 BST)
Australia v Wales (19:30 BST)

Sunday, 30 October
Play-off for third place (14:00 GMT)

Final (19:30 GMT - at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington)


Comedian and television presenter Adam Hills was been named in Australia's squad for the showcase event, which is taking place alongside as the men's, women's and wheelchair Rugby League World Cups.

🗣 "How many kids are out there right now that now know they can play rugby league?" 🏉 @adamhillscomedy says the chance to showcase Physical Disability Rugby League at a World Cup and live on the BBC is "enormous" for the sport.

More 👇 #BBCRL #RLWC2021

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 24, 2022