| Team information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Hawks |
| Governing body | USA Rugby League |
| Region | Europe |
| Head coach | Geoff Mason |
| Captain | Jesse Lind |
| IRL ranking | 8 (November 17, 2025)[1] |
| Team results | |
| First international | |
| Biggest win | |
| 62–41 vScotland (November 4, 2022) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
| 6–116 vFrance (November 10, 2022) | |
| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 1 (first time in2021) |
| Best result | 3rd in group,2021 |
TheUnited States national wheelchair rugby league team represents the United States inwheelchair rugby league. The team, nicknamed the Hawks, is controlled byUSA Rugby League, the governing body forrugby league in theUnited States. Formed in 2022, the team made its debut at the2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup finishing third in their group with one victory and two defeats.
In 2019 the organizers of the2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup announced the United States as one of the countries invited to participate in the tournament.[2] At the time of the invite there was no national team, so Australian Geoff Mason, a former player, was recruited to form a team.
Following try-outs a squad of 11 domestically based players was chosen and flew to England for the Cup.[3] The squad was captained by Jeff Townsend who had previously playedwheelchair basketball and included just one non-disabled player, Micah Johnson.[4] In England the squad was joined by Matthew Wooloff, a player based in the United Kingdom.[4]
The team's first ever competitive match was againstScotland in Sheffield on November 4 with the US winning 62–41 with Mackenzie Johnson being named player of the match.[5]
The second group match was againstWales with the US defeated 32–50 in a hard-fought game.[6] The defeat left the US team with a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals but it would require Wales lose their last group game against Scotland while the US team would have to beat defending world champions and number 1seeds, France.
The game against France was a one-sided affair as France ran in 21 tries to win 116–6 with Mackenzie Johnson scoring the only try for the US.[7] Mackenzie Johnson was named in the RLWC2021 Wheelchair Team of the Tournament.[8]
The team played its first matches at home in February 2024 when they hosted a two-match tour byWales.[9] Both matches were played at the Sports Center inMyrtle Beach, South Carolina. Wales won both matches.[10]
In April 2025, it was confirmed that the United States had qualified to compete at the2026 World Cup.[11]
| Date | Score[a] | Opponent | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4, 2022 | 62–41 |  Scotland | 2021 World Cup | [5] |
| November 7, 2022 | 32–50 |  Wales | [6] | |
| November 10, 2022 | 6–116 |  France | [12] | |
| February 2, 2024 | 24–78 | Wales | Two match series friendly | [13] |
| February 3, 2024 | 22–52 | Wales | [14] |
| Official rankings as of November 2025 | |||
| Rank | Change | Team | Pts % |
| 1 | |  England | 100 |
| 2 | | France | 86 |
| 3 | |  Ireland | 63 |
| 4 | |  Australia | 62 |
| 5 | | Wales | 46 |
| 6 | | Scotland | 41 |
| 7 | |  Spain | 25 |
| 8 | |  United States | 23 |
| 9 |  |  New Zealand | 5 |
| 10 |  1 |  Italy | 0 |
| Complete rankings at www.internationalrugbyleague.com | |||
| Dec 2022 | Jun 2023 | Dec 2023 | Jun 2024 | Dec 2024 | Jun 2025 | Nov 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 ( 1) | 8 ( 1) | 8 | 8 |
| References | [15] | [16] | [17][18] | [19] | [20][21] | [22][23] | [24][25] |
| Federation |
|
|---|---|
| National teams | |
| International competitions | |
| Representative teams |
|
| National competitions | |
| Unsanctioned competition |
|
| National Level Domestic Teams | |
| Domestic seasons | |
| National sports teams of the United States | |
|---|---|
| |