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...

Playing the Game and So Much More

2nd July

Last weekend saw the Lord's Taverners Junior Wheelchair Rugby National Championships take place at Stoke Mandeville with 50 young people playing across 2 age groups – U14 and U18. This was the first tournament most of the U14s had ever played and they were understandably very excited and a little nervous at the same time. In the U14 final Northampton Saints chalked a win in the final over Scarlets 10-5, whilst Ospreys won over Mapleford Saints 11-8 to take 3rd place. The U18s competition was i...

GB Win Gold at Four Nations in USA

28th May

There are many of us who will have related to the tweet on Saturday from one of the respected elders of our sport, himself a distinguished Paralympian, which read: ‘waited 20 years to start seeing our sides being successful overseas’.  Winning the Four Nations Tournament in Lakeshore Alabama this week was a big moment – not because the team suddenly has any illusions that the job is done and they are now top of the world, but because they have broken through what had become a see...

Looking to the Future

3rd May

It’s really pleasing to see our talent system coming to life and for the young athletes in the squad to have the opportunity to travel abroad and to experience what it is like to take part in an international competition. The last weekend of April saw the talent team fly out to Frankfurt, Germany to play in their first overseas tournament where they got to compete against Israel, the Czech Republic, Finland and a development team from Germany. After a nervous start in their first game against ...

Really Great Days!

11th April

Perhaps the most important development event we support each year is the Spinal Unit Games and this year’s has been no exception. On Tuesday we were at Stoke Mandeville to introduce the games to 117 adults from all over the UK who have recently encountered life changing injuries which have resulted in various degrees of paralysis. The games are an important part of their rehabilitation as they discover not just wheelchair rugby, but over 20 sports and activities. The Games are also an opportun...