England secured their place in the 2026 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup semi-finals following a clinical 134-0 victory against the USA at the Wollongong Entertainment Arena. Captain Mason Billington described the team’s performance as a “seven out of 10” as England ran in 23 tries to comfortably dispatch their opponents.
Dominant Team Performance
Eight different players scored for England during the high-scoring victory. Debutant Luis Domingos, a former basketball international for Portugal who now represents Sheffield Eagles and England, scored four tries in his first tournament appearance. Billington and Chris Haynes also scored four tries each.
Finlay O’Neill was named player of the match after generating 38 points, which included two tries and 15 conversions. Speaking after the game, O’Neill highlighted that the result was a collective effort and noted that while there are still areas to refine, the squad can be pleased with how they executed their game plan.
Improved Rating and Tournament Standings
The decisive victory represents a step forward for the English squad. Following their opening 98-18 win over Wales, player Rob Hawkins had stated the team fell short of its standard, giving that initial display a rating of five out of 10. Billington expressed satisfaction with the progress made against the USA, telling Premier Sports that the players maintained their principles throughout the match and delivered strong performances.
The result ensures England will advance to face either France or Australia in next week’s semi-finals. All four semi-final positions across the tournament have now been confirmed, though final group matches will determine the exact matchups.
In Pool A, Ireland joined England in qualifying for the knockout stage after defeating Wales 68-28. Third-ranked Ireland will conclude the group phase against England on Friday in Wollongong. Meanwhile, two-time champions France and tournament hosts Australia both reached triple digits in their latest victories—France beating New Zealand 120-10 and Australia topping Scotland 104-24—setting up a Friday fixture between the two nations to decide the top spot in Pool B. Scotland, New Zealand, Wales, and the USA will move into the placement competition to determine fifth through eighth place.
