Eighteen years after the inaugural tournament in Australia, the IRL Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup returns this Friday, with Ireland facing the USA in the opening group-stage match.

Both sides reached the group stages in 2022 but failed to progress further, and will be aiming to go one better this time.

The match takes place at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, kicking off at 1pm local time.

Ireland (squad): Joseph CALCOTT, Melanie GRIFFITH, Cian HORGAN, Toby BURTON-CARTER, Peter JOHNSTON, Thomas MARTIN, Phil ROBERTS, Jack MANGAN, James MCCARTHY, Maurice NOONAN

United States of America (squad): Jesse LIND, Mack JOHNSON, Jabrier LEE, William JOHNSTONE, Andy KINGSLEY, Antoine GRAY, Freddie SMITH III, Brent HAWKINS