England vs France: Wheelchair World Cup final time and TV after 86-18 semi-final rout

England will defend their Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup title against France on Friday morning, after thrashing hosts Australia 86-18 in Tuesday’s semi-final.

The England vs France wheelchair final is a repeat of the 2022 decider in Manchester, which England won 28-24 to take the trophy. It kicks off at 8.45am UK time at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, and is live on Premier Sports.

England vs France wheelchair final: time and TV

Detail	Information
Date	Friday 13 November 2026
UK kick-off	8.45am GMT
Local kick-off	7.45pm, Wollongong
Venue	WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
UK TV	Premier Sports

Premier Sports holds the exclusive UK and Ireland rights to the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, and the BBC is not covering the tournament. Check Premier Sports’ listings for the channel and the start of coverage.

England 86-18 Australia: how they reached the final

Tom Coyd’s side were 30-0 up inside 25 minutes against the hosts and led 40-6 at half-time. Rob Hawkins scored five tries and kicked five goals, and Mason Billington was player of the match with a hat-trick, seven tackle-breaks and 20 carries, according to the RFL.

Jack Brown, who scored twice early in the second half, said Coyd had told the team to play “without shackles”. He added that England still have “a few things still up our sleeve” for the final.

It finished an unbeaten run through the tournament. England beat Wales 98-18, the USA 134-0 and Ireland 68-32 in the group stage, before the semi-final win.

Round	Result
Group	England 98-18 Wales
Group	England 134-0 USA
Group	England 68-32 Ireland
Semi-final	England 86-18 Australia

France: England’s great rivals

France beat Ireland 82-26 in the other semi-final, so the two strongest sides in the world meet again. It is England’s fourth World Cup final in a row and France’s latest in a rivalry that has decided almost every tournament:

• 2008: England beat Australia in the first final
• 2013: France beat England 42-40
• 2017: France beat England 38-34
• 2021 (played in 2022): England beat France 28-24 in Manchester

This time England go in as holders, and on Tuesday’s evidence as favourites. For more on how the squad got here, see our semi-final preview and the England v Ireland group decider.

The rest of the World Cup finals weekend

The wheelchair final opens a big weekend. On Sunday, Australia face New Zealand in both the men’s World Cup final and the women’s final in Brisbane. Follow all of it in our Rugby League World Cup coverage.

England vs France wheelchair final: FAQs

What time is the England vs France wheelchair final? 8.45am UK time on Friday 13 November.

What channel is the Wheelchair World Cup final on? Premier Sports, which has the UK rights to the whole Rugby League World Cup. It is not on the BBC.

Who won the last Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup? England, who beat France 28-24 in the 2021 final, played in Manchester in November 2022.

What was the score in England vs Australia? England won 86-18 in Tuesday’s semi-final in Wollongong.