In the summer of 2022, Glyn Bennett contacted GBWR with the idea of starting a wheelchair rugby club in Burton-on-Trent. Glyn had a history in rugby union in the Burton area having been a chairman of a local club and had already mustered the support from the local RFU officer and an interest from Burton-on-Trent Rugby Club.
Initially GBWR challenged Glyn to gain some more local insight and establish some more local partnerships, which culminated in a mass local meeting at the rugby club to discuss the potential development of a wheelchair rugby club.
Moving forward with this support, GBWR loaned the project some rugby chairs and helped organise a series of taster sessions throughout April 2023. GBWR also engaged Darren Matthews, ex GB assistant coach and head coach at Leicester Tigers WRC to deliver the sessions. Darren only lives ten minutes down the road and was happy to support a local project.
The taster sessions and the hard work Glyn and Head Coach, Chris Bristow, put in has paid off, as they have attracted a membership base of nine players and four support staff. GBWR also delivered a Level 1 Safe Session Training course to the club to support the coaching staff, as well as Darren who is continuing to support some of their training sessions and providing a link with the Leicester tigers.
Although they have only been in existence for four months the club are already looking to play friendlies with other clubs and entering the local development league next season.
Glyn Bennetr, Burton Wheelchair Rugby Club Chairman, said:
“What an incredible four months it has been since our first taster session back in April. Not knowing if anyone would turn up and whether my dream would pay off. Incredibly we have 11 full members now that train every week and we are privileged to have Darren Matthews as our director of rugby.
As with all clubs, it has been a huge challenge accessing funds in this expensive world of wheelchair rugby. To address this and help us on our way, we are in the process of becoming a charitable organisation which we hope will open wider funding opportunities.
I am also in the final stages of negotiations with Derby University’s Sport Science Department. We will be working with a group of their PhD students, on their research work. Monitoring all our players with regards to performance and conditioning. Looking at how we develop disability sports and the impact on its players.
In the four months Burton Wheelchair Rugby Club has become more than a weekly sports facility for its players, it has become a life-line and much, much more.”
If you want to get involved with this club, or any other wheelchair rugby club, please visit the GBWR club finder and search for your closest club.
