Just eighteen months ago, Luis Domingos had never picked up a Wheelchair Rugby League ball, let alone imagined himself donning the national colors on the opposite side of the planet. Today, he stands on the cusp of a remarkable international campaign as part of England’s squad travelling to Australia, where the reigning champions are tasked with defending their coveted world title.
For Domingos, the journey from an uninitiated newcomer to an integral member of the world’s top-ranked wheelchair rugby league side has been nothing short of meteoric. Yet, while his introduction to rugby league is remarkably recent, elite international competition is far from foreign to him. Before finding his way onto the rugby court, Domingos carved out a successful career as a professional wheelchair basketball player, proudly representing Portugal on the international stage.
His transition into a completely different discipline was born out of a major life pivot. After stepping away from professional wheelchair basketball to focus on completing his university studies, Domingos found himself looking for a new sporting outlet once his academic commitments began to wind down. Encouraged to attend a local wheelchair rugby league training session, he decided to give it a try. What started as a casual curiosity quickly transformed into an all-consuming passion, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Adapting the rigorous spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and tactical discipline honed during his years playing professional basketball, Domingos found that his athletic foundation translated seamlessly to the dynamic, high-impact nature of wheelchair rugby league. His natural aptitude did not go unnoticed for long. Following standout performances at the domestic level, he earned a coveted Ashes call-up, marking the true beginning of his rapid ascent within the sport. Now, qualifying for England through residency, Domingos is set to represent his adopted home on the grandest stage possible, achieving a sporting ambition that essentially did not exist for him just two short years ago.
England’s wheelchair rugby league team now heads down under with a clear target on their backs, universally acknowledged as the benchmark for the sport globally. Their campaign to retain the world crown will begin with a challenging series of pool fixtures against Wales, the United States, and Ireland. Navigating these early encounters will be crucial as England seeks to assert its dominance in foreign conditions and establish momentum ahead of the knockout stages.
Reflecting on his incredible journey and his impending selection, Domingos admitted that the reality of the situation is still sinking in, though his primary focus remains on team cohesion and supporting his teammates. Speaking to Sky Sports, the England player shared his excitement about the milestone ahead of him and the unique path that brought him here.
"It is very exciting to have this opportunity, but I’m more excited to be with my family and team-mates. It is an exciting time to be selected," Domingos told Sky Sports. "I used to play basketball professionally but I had to come back to finish university. I had the opportunity to attend rugby training and fell in love with it. From that day until now has been amazing. I think when you trust the process and have fun, things happen as a result. Winning, medals, everything is just a result of hard work and I love this sport. It has been surprising but good."
England’s current status at the summit of the sport was cemented during an unforgettable home World Cup in 2022, where the nation captured the imagination of the public and emerged as tournament champions. Stepping into a squad with such a rich recent history of success could prove daunting for many athletes, particularly one with such limited experience in the sport. However, Domingos approaches the challenge with grounded humility and a fierce competitive drive, fully understanding the elite standards maintained within the camp.
Rather than feeling intimidated by the pressure of following in the footsteps of the 2022 winning generation, Domingos views his inclusion as an opportunity to contribute his unique skill set and personality to the collective effort. He credits his background in wheelchair basketball for providing him with the fundamental technical base necessary to compete at this level, while emphasizing that his main objective is simply to execute his role to the best of his ability and support the squad in any way required.
"The team is amazing to be a part of. All I can bring is my personality, hard work, be there to support the guys," he added. "I was fortunate to do basketball before, so all the skills are there. I just can’t wait to give my best, that is all I can do."
As the tournament in Australia draws closer, the rhetoric surrounding the England squad naturally centers on defending the title they captured so memorably a few years ago. But within the camp, the mindset is far more aggressive and forward-looking. For Domingos and his teammates, the word "defending" implies holding back and protecting what has already been won. Instead, they are approaching the tournament with an attacking philosophy rooted in ambition, hunger, and an absolute determination to claim the trophy outright once more.
"I know we won the last one and it would be easy to say we are defending, but we are not defending, we are going there to win," Domingos stated. "That is the aim, to bring the trophy home."