They Are All Big Games Here On In!

17th October

The morning session started with a pretty full stadium to watch Japan take on France. A bit like our game yesterday, France were in the game until half time but then Japan upped the pace and came out winners by 51-42 points. Up next was Canada v Australia with world number one Australia predictably taking a win by 61-54 points. By the time we came to play our game against world ranked number 10 Brazil, the stadium had cleared of the spectators. It was a pretty flat game to be honest and as you w...

GB Out of the Blocks with a Win

17th October

GB opened their tournament with a comfortable win against France 51-44. Having built a lead, Head Coach Paul Shaw used the game to give all of his lines an opportunity to get on the court and experience playing in the venue. I was honoured to welcome Mr Paul Madden, CMG, the UK Ambassador to Japan and his wife Sarah. It was the first time they had experienced wheelchair rugby and they were thrilled by it. Prior to the GB game the tournament had opened with hosts Japan ranked 2nd in the world ...

Read for the Off…

15th October

On Sunday we said goodbye to Kitakyushu after a very successful first training camp. The city was fantastic and looked after us incredibly well – a big thank you to everyone, especially the staff at the Rhiga Royal Hotel and at the Kitakyushu sports centre. Also to the many citizens who greeted our arrival and who came to watch and to support us – some shown here talking to Head Coach Paul Shaw. ...

True Value

11th October

We have developed a culture obsessed with measuring impact and value, and when the object of interest proves difficult to measure we often resort to using metrics which are easy to capture but in reality provide us with little true meaning. I am being tested at the moment on how to measure the social impact that my wheelchair rugby athletes can have on broader society – we know they inspire others but how do we prove we know? But consider this: Today with the GB Wheelchair Rugby team I visi...

Take Time to Enjoy the Moment

15th August

Congratulations to the GB team who have just returned from Vejle in Denmark having been crowned European Champions for a third successive time. Throughout the tournament the team demonstrated by its performances why it is now ranked 4th in the world by winning the majority of its games by 20-30 tries. Perhaps unsurprisingly it was host nation Denmark in the final that presented the biggest challenge, but although having only led by just two tries at half time, GB took control to win the game by ...

Shut Out the Noise and Enjoy the Things Which Make You Happy

29th July

It’s difficult not to sense an uneasiness in our country at the moment. Against a background of bigoted rhetoric and negativity, many ordinary people feel disempowered and down-hearted; their voices seemingly unheard and their hopes and aspirations in the hands, and at the mercy, of others. It is easy for us to be dragged down by things we are just unable to influence, and I admit that I have my black moments when I feel this deeply. So I am making a conscious effort to focus on the things whi...