England commenced their Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup title defense with a decisive 98-18 victory over Wales. Despite the lopsided score, coach Rob Hawkins noted that the team did not meet their own performance standards, citing errors that allowed Wales to score. England's strong showing included 18 tries, with Hawkins himself contributing 11 tries and four conversions.
The match saw Wales briefly competitive, closing the gap to 18-12 early on. However, England's explosive second half, featuring 10 additional tries, solidified their dominance. England will face the United States next, while Ireland set a new international points record in their match against the U.S.