Ireland broke their international points record with a sterling 110-10 win over the USA, while England kept the wood on Wales 98-18 as the opening matches of the 2026 Wheelchair World Cup got underway in Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Stadium.

The Emerald Isle’s previous Test record was 92 points against Scotland last year, but they surpassed that easily today, with the result never looking in doubt after the opening exchanges.

Ireland showed they are a renewed side since the 2022 World Cup on the back of winning the annual three-nation Celtic Cup (Ireland, Wales, Scotland) for the past three years.

England's Robert Hawkins was a star on day one of the Wheelchair World Cup. Picture: NRL Photos.

England are the reigning World Cup champions and handed the Welsh a heavy 122-22 defeat in the semi-finals of the 2022 tournament.

Today they were in no mood to surrender their supremacy underlined by right winger Robert Hawkins’ 11-try haul, which was a personal best after 10 tries for his club Halifax Panthers earlier this year.

Wheelchair World Cup Round 1

Pool A: Ireland def. USA 110-10

Feeding off 70 per cent possession it wasn’t hard to see why Ireland got into a pointcoring rhythm early.

Twelve first-half tries set them up for a commanding 66-6 lead at the break.
They scored 10 tries in the second by not letting their feet off the accelerator.

Captain Joseph Calcott topped the Irish scoresheet with seven tries but also pushed for 168 metres and made six line-breaks. He was a worthy Player of the Match winner.

Ireland didn’t win any of their three pool games at the 2022 World Cup but today turned that form on its head.

“The last four years it’s been the result of growing the game domestically,” Calcott told NRL.com.

“It sounds crazy but the last World Cup we had a lot of English players with Irish heritage. But we decided to unearth Irish talent and we found players like Cian Horgan, who was fantastic today."

Hargan scored Ireland’s first try and then another five after that over the course of 80 minutes.

“We have had this same squad together for almost three years now and we’ve just kept improving massively,” Calcott said.

USA scored the first point in the third minute through Antoine Gray but that’s as good as it got in the opening 40 minutes for the Stars-and-Stripes.

Skipper Jesse Lind scored their second 57 minutes later but the USA was no match for the speed and skill of the Irish.

Things don’t get any easier for the Americans as they face heavyweights England n Round 2 on Tuesday.

Pool A: England def. Wales 98-18

England has adopted a motto for this World Cup as they attempt to win back-to-back trophies.

“We’re here to win it, not defend it,” Robert Hawkins told NRL.com.

Hawkins certainly did his part with his 11 tries from England’s total of 18 along with four conversions. His personal tally of 52 points earned Hawkins the Player of the Match medal.

“Adrenalin is still flowing through me so I think it will hit me later how my body reacts,” said Hawkins, who several times landed on his back or face-planted the court trying to get the ball down.

“But like I always say, those tries wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t have the boys around me.”

Centre Nathan Collins wasn’t far behind him with four tries and nine goals.

The only sour note was in the 67th minute teammate Mason Billington had blood streaming from a head wound as he scored England’s 14th try and had to undergo an HIA.

Wales was in the hunt midway through the first half with two fine tries to Stuart Williams and Sid Ramsey to keep on England’s toes 18-12.

But then England clicked into gear with 28 unanswered points for a 46-12 half-time lead.

The crisp passing and support play were standouts from England’s performance today – there was always someone on the inside or outside of the ball-carrier.

“That’s the best part of our team actually. There is so much love for each other that we’d do anything for each other like backing each other 100 per cent on the field,” Hawkins said.

Next match for England is Ireland, who stayed behind in the stands today after their USA match to watch their opponents ahead of next Tuesday.