The International Rugby League Board has approved amendments to the international Wheelchair Rugby League Laws of the game ahead of RLWC2026 in Australia.

The changes were made following recommendations by the Wheelchair Laws Advisory Group, a sub-committee of the IRL Wheelchair Advisory Group, and will be implemented immediately across the game as nations prepare for the World Cup in October and November.

The Wheelchair tournament, which will again be played alongside the Men's and Women's World Cups, will kick off on October 31 in a huge day for England in Wollongong.

England, ranked No.1 in the latest IRL Wheelchair World Rankings, will open their defence of the World Cup they won in Manchester in 2022, against Wales at WIN Entertainment Centre as part of a double-header also featuring Ireland v USA.

The Wheelchair double-header will be followed by England Women taking on Fetu Samoa and England Men facing Papua New Guinea at the adjoining WIN Stadium.

Wollongong will also host the Wheelchair tournament in its entirety, with eight nations - Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, USA, Wales - playing 20 matches at WIN Stadium, including the final on November 13.

Rugby League World Cup 2026 returns to Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Where nations clash, heroes rise, and legends are forged. 3 World Cups. 26 Teams. The World’s Best. Tickets are now on sale from $19. Don’t miss the pinnacle of global Rugby League.

Wheelchair rugby league is an exciting sport full of big hits and athletic plays, and the rules align with running rugby league, including the game consisting of two 40-minute halves and the ball having to be passed backwards.

How are the teams made up

Five players are on the court at any given time, with a further three players serving as substitutes. Teams can be mixed gender and there are no restrictions on age.

A common misconception is that wheelchair rugby league athletes have to have a physical disability, but that isn't the case, with up to two able-bodied players allowed on the court at any given time.

Scoring

Just like running rugby league, the aim is simple - ground the ball in the opposition in-goal area to score a try. Conversions, like all traditional kicking motions in wheelchair rugby league, are completed with a player's fist in a punching motion with drop goals "kicked" in the same way. Drop goals are 'kicked' in the same way.

Scoring plays are worth the same as they are in running rugby league, with four points for a try, two for a conversion and one for a drop goal.

Tackling

All players wear tags on their shoulders during a game; when at least one of them is removed from the player in possession by an opponent, that counts as one tackle.

Contact can be made with the chair of a ball-carrier, often resulting in big hits, and if a player can't progress or get the ball free, it counts as a tackle by default.

A play-the-ball is completed by touching the ball on the floor and passing to a teammate. Possession lasts for six tackles before the ball is handed over.

The Wheelchair Rugby League Laws were last reviewed in 2024, the first wholescale review of the Laws in over a decade, and the most recent recommendations provide clarity and address unintended consequences arising from the 2024 review ahead of RLWC2026.

The following Laws have been implemented with immediate effect:

9th player - provision has been made for a 9th player, similar to the 18th player in the running game, with clarity on the circumstances by which the 9th player can be activated
Half time period – the half time period has been extended from five minutes to ten minutes
Delaying tackles - defender(s) may no longer delay tag removal to allow extra time for the defensive line to set themselves
Foul play - attempts by the ball carrier to trap the hands/arms to prevent a tackler from removing a tag are now considered foul play
Voluntary Tackle – a player who deliberately raises both arms above shoulder height to “surrender” in order to prevent themselves from being tackled in a disadvantageous position will now be penalised for a voluntary tackle
Play-the-ball – the reference to “one continuous movement” has been removed from the description of the action of the play-the-ball
Minimum numbers of players – contradictory references have been removed to make it clear that should one team be reduced to less than three players, for whatever reason, the game should be abandoned

The Wheelchair Laws Advisory Group was chaired by Ollie Cruickshank (ERL) and comprised Brad Grove (APRL– International Player), Steve Hewson (ARLC), Lewis King (ERL – International Player) Cyril Torres (FFRXIII), Martin Coyd OBE (RFL), Matt Ball (IRL – International Referee) and David Butler (IRL).

The international Laws are for all levels of the wheelchair game.

The Wheelchair Rugby League Laws Of The Game can be viewed here.