September’s club of the month has been awarded to 2012 legacy club, Team Solent Sharks Wheelchair Rugby. A club who over the years have had representation at almost all GBWR competitions and have shown tremendous growth since their inception after the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
The club are linked to Southampton’s Solent University and their training sessions are held at the University’s Sport Complex. The club’s roots are planted also at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Unit where in 2012 a group of former patients started having conversations with GBWR, Solent University and New Forest District Council to bring wheelchair rugby to the region, no doubt spurred on by the historic Paralympic games in London. Fast forward a few years and the Sharks quickly established themselves as a strong and competitive team in the national league with GB player Aaron Phipps as their dominant driving force, the team were competing with the best in the top division.
With the creation of wheelchair rugby fives and GBWRs junior programme the Solent Sharks were one of the first clubs to enter respective teams and were taking part in all disciplines of the game. They continue to do so today with three teams competing across GBWRs domestic league competitions and a junior section also.
The club have 43 members aligned to them and are one of the biggest wheelchair rugby clubs in the country by membership, their opportunities to compete in domestic competitions will be a leading factor in this number, aswell as their good standing in the local area and relationship with Solent University and local authorities.
The club’s involvement in all aspects of wheelchair rugby also extends to their representation on the GB pathway, where alongside West County Hawks, the majority of the current Talent team is made up of Sharks players. The future national team will no doubt include current Solent Sharks players and the club’s growth and success will subsequentially be a factor in the success of the GB team in the future.
If you wish to get involved with a local wheelchair rugby club you can use GBWR’s find a club tool to search for one nearby.
