Wheelaroos squad named for historic trans-Tasman series

Wheelchair Rugby League Australia has announced the Wheelaroos squad to tour New Zealand for an historic series against the newly formed Wheel Kiwis.

The Wheelaroos will play their New Zealand rivals for the first time in a two Tests in Auckland scheduled to coincide with men’s and women’s Pacific Championships clash fixtures at Go Media Stadium.

The Kiwis will play Tonga in the Pacific Bowl, while there will be a women’s play-off for the 2026 World Cup, on November 3.

The inaugural wheelchair Tests will be played on November 1 and November 4, with the international debut of the Wheel Kiwis ensuring a second Pacific nation at RLWC2026 to be hosted by the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC).

Australia is ranked No.3 in the IRL World Rankings behind wheelchair powerhouses England and France but has not played since the last World Cup two years ago in England.

Daniel Anstey, Tony Popple and Zac Schumacher are the new faces in the Wheelaroos squad from their last appearance against France in the semi-final of the World Cup.

2024 Wheelaroos Test Team (in alphabetical order):

• Daniel Anstey (QLD)
• Peter Arbuckle (QLD)
• Cory Cannane (NSW)
• Brad Grove (NSW)
• Diab Karim (NSW)
• Bayley McKenna (QLD)
• Toby Popple (NSW)
• Zac Schumacher (QLD)

Coach: Brett Clark (NSW)

The schedule for the games is as follows:

Game 1: 1 November 2024 – Auckland vs. New Zealand Wheelchair Rugby League

Game 2: 4 November 2024 – Auckland vs. New Zealand Wheelchair Rugby League

The two games will be live-streamed.