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Ireland national wheelchair rugby league team

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Ireland
Badge of Ireland team
Team information
Governing bodyRugby League Ireland
RegionEurope
Head coachPhil Roberts[1]
IRL ranking 3 Steady (21 July 2025)[2]
Team results
First international
World Cup
Appearances2 (first time in 2013)
Best result5th, 2013

The Ireland national wheelchair rugby league team represents Ireland in wheelchair rugby league. They have competed at the World Cup, the European Championships, the Celtic Cup and Four Nations competitions.

History

[edit]

In July 2012 Ireland took part their first international competition, the Four Nations, a round-robin tournament between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.[3][4] The tournament was held as part of preparations for the world cup taking place the following year.[5] At the 2013 World Cup Ireland lost their matches against Wales and England. A win against Scotland was not enough to progress to the semi-finals, but they defeated Scotland in a play-off to take fifth place.[6] Ireland finished second at the 2014 Four Nations.[7] In 2015 Ireland played Scotland in the first Celtic Cup which was contested over two matches[8] but became an annual three-team round-robin with the addition of Wales in 2016.[9][10] At the 2015 European Championships their only group stage win was against Wales, but with a play-off win over Scotland they took third place in the tournament.[11][12] In 2016 Ireland were unable to travel with a full team for the Four Nations so their place was filled by a mixed team of Irish, Welsh and English players known as the Exiles.[13] At the 2021 World Cup Ireland were not initially selected to take part but were brought in to replace Norway who had withdrawn from the tournament.[14] Ireland were knocked out at the group stage after losses to Spain and Australia[15] before suffering a record defeat (0–121) in their final match against England.[16] In June 2024, the Celtic Cup was played in Galway. This was the first time the tournament had been played in Ireland and it was won by the hosts who won both of their matches.[17][18] In 2025, Ireland retained the Celtic Cup and set a new record for their largest win with a 92–20 victory over Scotland.[19]

Squad

[edit]
Wales squad for 2025 Celtic Cup
First team squad Coaching staff

Head coach

  • Phil Roberts


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 25 May 2025
Source(s): [1]

Competitive record

[edit]

World Cup

[edit]
World Cup Record
Year Finish
Australia 2008 Did not enter
England 2013 5th
France 2017 Did not enter
England 2021 Group stage

Celtic Cup

[edit]
Celtic Cup results by year:  Ireland
Opponent \ Year20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
 ScotlandW-WDWWL–WWWWW
 WalesxLLLL–LLDWW
Finish:12223–22211
Source: [20][21]
Notes:
  • 2015: Wales did not take part – Ireland and Scotland played each other twice
  • 2020: The tournament was cancelled in 2020[22]

Results

[edit]
Date Score[a] Opponent Competition Ref.
7 July 2012 12–34  England 2012 Four Nations [23]
7 July 2012 4–44  Wales [24]
8 July 2012 14–8  Scotland [25]
3 July 2013 6–104  Wales 2013 World Cup Group stage [6]
6 July 2013 6–36  England [6]
9 July 2013 26–6  Scotland [6]
13 July 2013 36–14  Scotland 2013 World Cup 5th place play-off [6]
13 September 2014 58–10  Wales 2014 Four Nations [7]
14 September 2014 2–54  England
14 September 2014 60–10  Scotland [26]
18 April 2015 52–28  Scotland 2015 Celtic Cup [27]
25 May 2015 80–48  Scotland [8]
9 August 2015 46–29  Wales Friendly [11]
24 September 2015 16–32  Scotland 2015 European Championship [28]
24 September 2015 8–100  France [29]
25 September 2015 16–66  England [30]
26 September 2015 46–36  Wales [11]
26 September 2015 20–16  Scotland 2015 European Championship 3rd place play-off [28]
30 April 2016 26–76  Wales 2016 Celtic Cup [31]
30 April 2016 58–58  Scotland [32][33]
29 April 2017 26–16  Scotland 2017 Celtic Cup [34]
29 April 2017 6–51  Wales [35]
28 April 2018 68–36  Scotland 2018 Celtic Cup [36]
28 April 2018 30–84  Wales [37]
27 April 2019 8–109  Wales 2019 Celtic Cup [38]
27 April 2019 42–52  Scotland [39]
12 June 2021 52–32  Scotland 2021 Celtic Cup [40]
12 June 2021 16–96  Wales [41]
16 October 2021 48–62  Wales Friendly [41]
7 May 2022 22–64  Wales 2022 Celtic Cup [42]
7 May 2022 38–35  Scotland [43]
18 June 2022 52–22  Scotland Friendly [43]
8 October 2022 52–67  Wales Friendly [42]
3 November 2022 32–55  Spain 2021 World Cup Group stage [44]
6 November 2022 18–76  Australia [45]
9 November 2022 0–121  England [16]
18 June 2023 58–24  Scotland 2023 Celtic Cup [46]
18 June 2023 30–30  Wales [47]
8 June 2024 68–34  Scotland 2024 Celtic Cup [48][49]
8 June 2024 68–32  Wales [50][18]
21 November 2024 20–62  France Friendly [51]
24 May 2025 92–20  Scotland 2025 Celtic Cup [52]
24 May 2025 66–10  Wales [53]

Records and rankings

[edit]
IRL Wheelchair World Rankings
Official rankings as of July 2025
Rank Change Team Pts %
1 Steady  England 100
2 Steady  France 96
3 Steady  Ireland 60
4 Steady  Australia 52
5 Steady  Wales 49
6 Steady  Scotland 41
7 Steady  Spain 27
8 Steady  United States 25
9 Increase 1  Italy 0
Complete rankings at
www.internationalrugbyleague.com
Jun
2020 		Dec
2021 		Jun
2022 		Dec
2022 		Jun
2023 		Dec
2023 		Jun
2024 		Dec
2024 		Jun
2025
Ireland historical IRL Wheelchair World Rankings
Ranking 5 6 (Fall1) 4 (Rise2) 5 (Fall1) 5 5 4 (Rise1) 3 (Rise1) 3
References [54] [55][56] [57][58] [59] [60] [61][62] [63] [64][65] [66][67]
  • Biggest win: 92–20 v. Scotland (24 May 2025)[19]
  • Biggest defeat: 0–121 v. England (9 November 2022)[16]

Honours

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Ireland score given first

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Wheelchair Celtic Cup preview". European Rugby League. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  2. ^ "IRL World Rankings: Wheelchair". International Rugby League. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  3. ^ "England win Wheelchair Four Nations". European Rugby League. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2012". Wales Rugby League. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Hull hosts Wheelchair Rugby League 4 Nations". European Rugby League. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Wheelchair World Cup". rugbyleague.wales. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2014". Wales Rugby League. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Scotland 48–80 Ireland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Celtic Cup". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Wales set sights on sixth straight Celtic Cup". Everything Rugby League. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  11. ^ a b c "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2015". Wales Rugby League. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Ireland seal third–place at Wheelchair Rugby League European Championships". The Irish Post. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Exiles Wheelchair 62v24 SCOT Wheelchair". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  14. ^ Pavitt, Michael (7 March 2022). "Ireland replace Norway in Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup line-up". Inside the Games. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Awesome Australia soar past Ireland". RLWC2021. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  16. ^ a b c "England Wheelchair 121-0 Ireland Wheelchair". RLWC2021. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Wheelchair Celtic Cup 2024 Heads to Ireland". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  18. ^ a b c "Ireland 68 v 32 Wales". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  19. ^ a b c [ttps://www.intrl.sport/article/428/ireland-retain-wheelchair-celtic-cup "Ireland retain Wheelchair Celtic Cup"]. International Rugby League. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
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  22. ^ "The Wheelchair Rugby League Celtic Cup returns to Scotland". Scotland Rugby League. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
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  29. ^ "Ireland 48–80 France". European Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  30. ^ "Ireland 16–66 England". European Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  31. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2016". Wales Rugby League. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  32. ^ "IRE Wheelchair 58v58 SCOT Wheelchair". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  33. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2016". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2017". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  35. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2017". Wales Rugby League. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  36. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2018". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  37. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2018". Wales Rugby League. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  38. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2019". Wales Rugby League. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  39. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2019". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  40. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2021". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  41. ^ a b "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2021". Wales Rugby League. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  42. ^ a b "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2022". Wales Rugby League. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  43. ^ a b "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2022". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  44. ^ "Spain 55–32 Ireland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  45. ^ "Australia 76–18 Ireland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  46. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2023". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  47. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2023". Wales Rugby League. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  48. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2024". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  49. ^ "Ireland 68 v 34 Scotland". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  50. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2024". Wales Rugby League. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  51. ^ "Para Rugby XIII – France vs Irlande : 62 – 20". FFRXIII (in French). 21 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  52. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2025". Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  53. ^ "Wheelchair Fixtures: 2025". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  54. ^ "Inaugural Wheelchair Rugby League World Rankings revealed". RFL. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  55. ^ "Serbia move into Top 10 in men's world rankings". IRL. 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
  56. ^ "World Rankings: Wheelchair". IRL. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022.
  57. ^ "IRL World Rankings: Tonga continue rise as rivals close gap on Jillaroos, France". IRL. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022.
  58. ^ "World Rankings: Wheelchair". IRL. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022.
  59. ^ "Explainer: Wheelchair IRL World Rankings (Dec 2022)". IRL. 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023.
  60. ^ "Serbia, Philippines, Wales big movers in IRL World Rankings". IRL. 27 July 2025. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  61. ^ "Kangaroos still ranked No.1 despite record loss to Kiwis". NRL. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  62. ^ "World Rankings: Wheelchair". IRL. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024.
  63. ^ "IRL World Rankings: June 30, 2024". IRL. 26 July 2024. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  64. ^ "IRL World Rankings: December 2024". IRL. 19 December 2024. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  65. ^ "World Rankings Updated". ERL. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  66. ^ "World Rankings: Wheelchair". IRL. Archived from the original on 21 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  67. ^ "IRL World Rankings: June 30, 2025". IRL. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
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