Rob Hawkins, a 25-year-old wing for England and Halifax Panthers, will lead his team into the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup semi-final against Australia on Tuesday in Wollongong. Hawkins has battled chronic fatigue syndrome since 2014, a condition that once left him bedbound for 18 months and dependent on walking frames or family help for basic tasks. Despite this, he has become one of the sport’s top players and a driving force behind England’s quest to become the first nation to win the trophy three times.
Hawkins’ journey into wheelchair rugby league began almost by accident. After seeing a television advert for wheelchair basketball, he and his family sought out a local club in Halifax. Instead, they found a wheelchair rugby league team. “I thought I’d give it a try,” Hawkins said. “I jumped into a chair for about 20 minutes before my body probably wouldn’t let me continue any more and I just kept wanting to go back and get better.”
The sport reignited Hawkins’ competitive spirit after years lost to illness. “When I found out that I could play internationally it kind of drove my competitiveness back out that I didn’t have since before the condition,” he added.
Hawkins’ achievements include winning the International Rugby League’s Golden Boot Award in both 2024 and 2025 as the world’s best wheelchair player. He also holds the Wheels of Steel award as the Super League’s best player. His presence was a major factor in England’s title win at the last World Cup in Manchester four years ago.
England reached the semi-finals by dominating Pool A with a 98-18 win over Wales, a 134-0 rout of the USA, and a 68-32 victory against Ireland. Australia, the hosts, also come into the semi-final with strong form but suffered a 69-34 defeat to France, the last tournament’s runners-up.
Despite Australia’s reputation and the pressure of playing at home, Hawkins said England are ready. “I’m excited for the pressure. We know they have been bringing a decent crowd in and that it is going to be a difficult game with the atmosphere and with the team that we’re facing,” he said. “But we also know that we are confident to basically go and do our game and stick to our game plan as well.”
Hawkins described a ritual the England squad uses to keep focus. “We have some ladders in our team room and every game that we’ve won so far we’ve been spray painting it gold. We’re just taking that one step up the ladder every time.”
Living with chronic fatigue means Hawkins still has to manage his energy carefully. “There are still times where I just need that extra rest,” he said. “There are days where I still go down and I do just rest all day long. The thing that I’ve just learned over the years is effectively just trying to pace myself as much as I can.”
Despite his struggles, Hawkins sees a positive side to his experience. “It feels weird to say – I’m happy I’ve had this condition because it’s taught me and seemed to show me a different aspect of life where I’ve actually connected with people that I might not have done previously.”
The England team, backed by Hawkins’ leadership, will face Australia on Tuesday at 08:45 GMT, aiming to reach the final and extend their hold on the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.
According to Yahoo Sports.
