The third of the trio of Rugby League World Cup tournaments to be held in 2022 begins on Thursday when the wheelchair competition gets underway. It also represents the first action in London so far since the men's event got going almost three weeks ago, with the Copper Box Arena on the Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park hosting its first pair of six group games. The undoubted highlight of the opening day is hosts England's clash with Australia.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Thursday’s action…
Ireland v Spain – Wheelchair Group A
Where: Copper Box Arena, London.
When: 5pm (GMT)
TV: BBC Red Button and BBC iPlayer
Both teams are making their second appearance at Wheelchair Rugby League World Cups, with Ireland returning after their fifth-place finish in 2013. At that event they overcame heavy defeats to Wales and England to beat Scotland twice over, first in the final group game and then in the 5th/6th place play-off. Damian McCabe's side were 67-52 losers to Wales in their final warm-up fixture heading into this tournament.
The Spanish were participants in 2017 in France, losing out narrowly to Australia in the quarter-finals after beating Scotland in the group stage. They were given a bit of a lesson by world champions France in their final warm-up match in September, though, suffering a 108-4 defeat in Fitou.
Sportsman stat: Despite winning two and losing two in their last World Cup tournament, Ireland scored just 76 points and conceded 210 in 2013. Meanwhile, Spain never scored fewer than 39 points in any of their three matches in 2017.
England v Australia - Wheelchair Group A
Where: Cooper Box Arena, London.
When: 7:30pm (GMT)
TV: BBC Two and BBC iPlayer
Champions in 2008, England will be hopeful of winning back the World Cup trophy after having beaten reigning champions France 62-48 in a friendly international in Manchester in June. Captain Tom Halliwell is one of three players from the Leeds Rhinos in the 12-strong squad, while there are also three representatives of new Betfred Wheelchair Super League champions Halifax Panthers.
The Wheelaroos come into the tournament in the very rare position for an Australia rugby league team of being underdogs and having never won the competition previously. They finished in third place five years ago after being hammered 76-24 by England in the semi-final, and coach Brett Clark and his captain Brad Grove will be intent on gaining revenge for that exit when the two sides begin their campaign on Thursday.
Sportsman stat: England have racked up 81, 80 and 76-point hauls in their last three meetings with the Wheelaroos at World Cup tournaments.
