Hawkins among five World Cup winners in England's wheelchair rugby league squad

England have confirmed a 10-player squad for this autumn's Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in Australia, where they will aim to defend the title they won in 2022. Five members of the squad were part of that triumphant side, which beat France in a dramatic final in Manchester to lift the trophy.

Among them is Rob Hawkins, who finished this season as the Wheelchair Super League's top try-scorer with 70 tries. He scored four tries on Sunday as Halifax Panthers completed a clean sweep of domestic trophies by beating Leeds Rhinos in the Grand Final. Hawkins is joined by Halifax team-mates Jack Brown, who scored six tries in that final, and Finlay O'Neill.

Also part of the 2022 title-winning squad are Lewis King, who will captain England in Australia, his London Roosters club-mate Joe Coyd, and Leeds Rhinos' Nathan Collins. The squad is completed by Collins' Leeds team-mate Tristan Norfolk, Roosters player Mason Billington, and Sheffield Eagles duo Luis Domingos and Chris Haynes.

Fixtures

England open their campaign against Wales on 30 October, before facing the USA on 3 November and Ireland on 6 November as they look to reach the semi-finals. The tournament will be held at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre, with the final scheduled for 13 November. The wheelchair competition will run alongside the men's and women's World Cups.

Head coach Tom Coyd, who guided England to their 2022 triumph in Manchester, said every player understands what representing England means and the responsibility that comes with it, describing Sunday's Grand Final as proof of the special community the team represents on the world stage. England's squad will fly to Australia on 22 October.