Great Britain Name Squad for First Women’s World Championship
Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby has selected its squad for the inaugural Women’s World Wheelchair Rugby Championship, set to take place in Paris, France, from 1-5 December 2026.
The championship marks a historic moment for the sport, with women’s national teams competing for an official world title for the first time. For the players selected, it is an opportunity to represent Great Britain on the world stage. For the sport, it is an opportunity to inspire more women and girls with permanent physical disabilities to discover wheelchair rugby.
The creation of the Women’s World Wheelchair Rugby Championship is the result of years of growth in the women’s game and provides a clear international pathway for female athletes. Paris 2026 will be a landmark moment not only for those taking to the court but also for the future of women’s wheelchair rugby around the world.
Great Britain Squad
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
 Phoebe Gibbons |
Stoke Mandeville Maulers |
 Meg Jenkinson |
North East Bulls |
 Gemma Lumsdaine |
Leicester Tigers |
 Lauren Saphir |
Leicester Tigers |
 Kaitlyn Kaminski |
Leicester Tigers |
 Hayley Cassin |
Leicester Tigers |
 Helen Thompson |
Stoke Mandeville Maulers |
 Nikki Charlton |
Leicester Tigers |
 Millie Partridge |
Cheltenham Tigers |
 Hannah Bucys |
West Coast WRC |
 Faye West |
Leicester Tigers |
The squad will be led by co-captains Hannah Bucys and Faye West, whose leadership and passion for developing women’s wheelchair rugby are helping shape the team’s journey to this historic first Women’s World Championship.
Hannah Bucys said:
“It’s an honour to be selected for the first Women’s World Championships and be part of history! I’m excited to be part of this team, showcase women in wheelchair rugby, whilst also focusing on competing and representing Great Britain!”
Faye West added:
“It’s always an honour to be selected and represent GB at a tournament, but this one is very special. I’m very excited and proud to be a part of history and compete at the first Women’s World Championships!”
“It’s fantastic for the players to be competing at the first ever Women’s World Championships. It will provide a great platform to showcase the best female wheelchair rugby athletes in the world. We’re really excited about the squad we’ve selected. The players have worked incredibly hard to get to this point and we’re looking forward to seeing them put their learning into practice, embrace the pressure and show what they can do on the world stage.”
Ayaz Bhuta MBE, Head Coach
A Moment That Can Inspire More Women to Play
The squad brings together players from clubs across Great Britain, highlighting the continued growth of women’s wheelchair rugby and the opportunities now available for female athletes with permanent physical disabilities.
The first Women’s World Championship provides an opportunity to showcase the skill, athleticism and competitiveness of the women’s game to new audiences. For many athletes, seeing women representing Great Britain on the international stage can be the inspiration needed to take the first step into the sport themselves.
For many of the players selected, their journey started by attending a local club session and giving wheelchair rugby a try. Today, they have the opportunity to make history as part of the first Great Britain team to compete at a Women’s World Championship.
Could This Be You?
Wheelchair rugby is open to women and men with a permanent physical disability affecting at least three limbs.
Whether your goal is to keep active, meet new people, compete at club level or one day represent Great Britain, there is a place for you in the sport.
The players selected for Paris 2026 all started somewhere. The next player to represent Great Britain could be sitting in a local club, attending a taster session, or discovering wheelchair rugby for the very first time.
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