The final weekend of Division 2 of this season’s Super Series saw Bulls take the top spot. It was not without a fight though and Bulls lost their first game this season to Burn. There were some tight games and some different looking teams from the earlier rounds. Ospreys were up against it without Stuart Robinson who was training with the GB Invictus team – congratulations to him on making the squad. Final positions at the end of the season are: 1. Bulls; 2.Canterbury; 3. Burn; 4. Ospreys; 5. Gloucester; 6. Hawks.
So with that we see Bulls qualifying for promotion to Division 1 next season and the top 4 teams going on to the BT National Championships in Sheffield in 2 weeks time where the Cup competition will see the following teams battle it out: Storm, Crash, Marauders, RGC, Tigers, Sharks and the Shield will be between: Crusaders, Gaelic Warriors, Canterbury, Bulls. Ospreys and Burn.
This week all eyes will be at Leicester where Canada and Sweden arrive on Wednesday for the start of a training tournament. GB will start the tournament with a game against No1 in the world Canada at 1030 on Friday at the QE11 Jubilee Leisure Centre in Duns Lane. There is seating for about 800 so if you want to drop in and watch all will be welcome. Canada play Sweden at 2pm that day and the final game will be between GB and Sweden at 5.30pm. There are 3 games on Saturday and a further 3 games on Sunday so a good chance for all teams to practice ahead of some big tournaments. GB are off to Japan in May for the Japan para Championships and then to Vancouver in June for the Canada Cup but before that there is the Paralympic Games Selection Camp during the first week of May so all athletes will be looking to impress this weekend.
Around the Tri Nations Tournament we have been working with two schools in Nottingham, Fernwood and Rushcliffe and one school in Leicester, Maplewell Hall Special School. These three schools will come together to play in a “Tri Nations Youth Festival” on the 18th of May in Nottingham. The emphasis will very much be on participation rather than competitiveness. We will also be welcoming Forest Way School Ashfield Academy, Maplewell Hall Special School, Ashby School and Longfield Rushcliffe School all of who will be attending the Tri Nations Tournament.
As I write this Wheelpower’s Spinal Unit Games will be starting at Stoke Mandeville. We will be there to deliver wheelchair rugby in what remains a very important event which brings together people from across UK to experience wheelchair sport. For most it is their first introduction to sport following their injury and so it is a very significant time and can have a major impact on their future. It has also been the catalyst for many taking up wheelchair rugby as their sport. Last year Grace McGowan was introduced to rugby at the Spinal Unit Games and went on to take the sport up. She now plays for Dorset Destroyers, one of our newest clubs and she comments:
‘I am now more confident thanks to being part of a team and I have met some lifelong friends. I was worried I would let the team down as I was new and weak when I started but they boosted my confidence and helped me train and improve’.
Good luck to all who take part in this year’s games and for those who get a taste there is a warm welcome waiting for you in the rugby family!
David Pond
