England v France: Tom Coyd wants England to refocus for World Cup rematch

Coyd took over as England head coach in 2020 after a spell as assistant

England are ready to refocus after their historic Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final success, says coach Tom Coyd.

Last November, Coyd's side beat France in front of a record crowd at Manchester Central to claim the global title.

Since then, the team have been widely recognised for their efforts and seen the sport grow in popularity with new sides starting up across the country.

"Everything has changed since the final whistle on 18 November," Coyd told BBC Sport before they face the French on Sunday at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.

"It wasn't something we envisioned because we only focused as far as the end of the final. If we had thought any further ahead, we would possibly have taken our eye off the ball.

"Since then, we have just been trying to enjoy these moments and stay present. Now this match has come up it has allowed us to refocus, stop living in the past and start looking ahead."

Among the opportunities were a reception for the team at Hampton Court Palace, hosted by the Princess of Wales, who is a patron of the Rugby Football League. Last month she took part in a wheelchair rugby league game as part of a Inclusivity Day event in Hull.

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Coyd and players Seb Bechara, James Simpson and captain Tom Halliwell were recognised in the New Year's Honours list, the team were the subject of a BBC Four documentary and preparations for Sunday included a camp at St George's Park, the home of English football.

"The journey we have been on is unimaginable and to have the doors that are now open to us," added Coyd.

"Everywhere we go we carry the world champions tag and with that comes respect, prestige and expectation. When we approached St George's Park, they said they couldn't wait to have us train at the venue.

"We are really proud to carry that mantle. It is really important to us to be great ambassadors and to represent our sport and our community and to behave as world champions wherever we go."

Sunday's game between the world's top two sides forms part of a double-header with England travelling to Marseille on 25 November.

There has been historic rivalry between the sides for many years with France's head coach Sylvain Crismanovich expressing his concern about the impact of non-disabled players on the game both before and after the World Cup final. Teams can have two non-disabled players among the five on court at any one time.

There was also controversy during the 2022 final with referee Laurent Abrial later suspended for three years after an International Rugby League misconduct committee found he "brought the game into disrepute through unacceptable behaviour".

A review of the sport's laws since the World Cup means that Coyd can only name an eight-player squad for the game with Josh Butler from the Leeds Rhinos, the Wheelchair Super League Young Player of the Year, coming in alongside seven World Cup winners.

Among them is Jack Brown, who has returned from Australia for the game and Lewis King, the inaugural winner of the Wheels of Steel for Player of the Year.

France will be without Gilles Clausells and his nephew Nicolas Clausells, who have been key figures for many years, but have plenty of experience with Jeremy Bourson, Lionel Alazard and Arno Vargas.

Coyd believes that the new-look France squad will present a different challenge.

"It is an opportunity for their other players to step up," he said.

"They will also want to do what the team couldn't do last year and beat us. It is a really big opportunity for them.

"Although we know the second game is happening, first and foremost we are looking at Sunday. We can't win two in a row if we don't win the first one."

Collins played at his second World Cup in 2022

For Nathan Collins, one of three Leeds Rhinos players in the squad, along with Halliwell and Butler, playing in front of his home crowd will be a dream come true.

"Playing for your country is what you want to do as a child but to do that in front of a home crowd is special and Sunday is an amazing opportunity to put the sport on the map even more," he told BBC Sport.

"For myself and Tom and Josh, it will be great to play in front of our friends and family who don't always get to come and watch us but know how much work we have put in to get there.

"We know every time we play France it will be tough and I think it will be another fast, furious, high-collision game and I feel like the team who sticks best to the gameplan will have the best outcome."

England: Tom Halliwell (Leeds Rhinos, captain), Seb Bechara (Catalans Dragons), Jack Brown (North Queensland Cowboys), Josh Butler (Leeds Rhinos), Nathan Collins (Leeds Rhinos), Joe Coyd (London Roosters), Rob Hawkins (Halifax Panthers), Lewis King (London Roosters). Ninth player: Wayne Boardman (Halifax Panthers)

France: Lionel Alazard (Montauban), Jeremy Bourson (Catalans Dragons), Damien Dore (Catalans Dragons), Florian Guttadoro (Avignon), Julien Penella (Aingirak Euskadi XIII), Arno Vargas (Catalans Dragons), Yann Verdi (Avignon), Adrien Zittel (Avignon). Ninth player: Guillaume Mautz (Avignon)

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