Ryan Cowling officially retires from international competition
With an international wheelchair rugby career that began in 2015, today Ryan Cowling officially retires from international competition. At 48, he has been a consistent member of the GB team over the last nine years, the obvious highlight was his significant role in winning the nation’s first Paralympic medal in wheelchair rugby at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Ryan’s journey in wheelchair rugby is a testament to his hard work, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to be the best he can be for his team. Having developed a deep understanding of the game, he is a player who holds a lot of tactical knowledge and has worked closely with the coaches over the last few years. He retires from international competition with a decorated career.
Key achievements.
– Paralympic Gold Medal (2021)
– Represented GB at Two Paralympic Games (2016, 2021)
– Two European Championship Gold Medals (2019, 2017)
– One European Championship Silver Medal (2022)
– Two World Championships
– Two World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge Tournaments
Ryan is a former serviceman who sustained a spinal injury whilst away on army training. He started playing rugby for West Coast Wheelchair Rugby club in 2009 and was selected to be part the GB development team in 2014. He made his GB international debut at the Rio Test event in February 2016, and later that year he returned to Rio for the Paralympics, where he was part of the GB team and made his Paralympic debut.
Following his 2016 debut he has been a regular face on the GB team and retires with 129 caps.
GB Head Coach Paul Shaw:
“Ryan became part the GB team as an older athlete, bringing a mature and pragmatic perspective on what was needed for success. His hard work paid off, as he was instrumental in GB winning gold in Tokyo. Ryan always knew what it took to improve and was always there to help his teammates. His input was invaluable in discussions about tactics, opposition, and his own development. He will be sorely missed.”
GB Captain Gavin Walker:
“It’s always sad for me to see players move on, but I am confident Ryan will excel in whatever he chooses to do next. Not only was he a key part of our Paralympic gold-winning team, but he also set new standards for what low-point players can achieve in the sport. His exceptional inbound range and success rate transformed our team’s capabilities. On a personal note, I’ll miss those tough training sessions with you, as well as your dedication and work ethic. You’ve had a fantastic career and set a great example for others to follow.”
Ryan will continue to coach wheelchair rugby
While he is retiring from the international game, Ryan’s passion for the sport remains undiminished, and he intends to stay involved in wheelchair rugby. He will be coaching at his club West Coast, alongside former GB teammate Ayaz Bhuta.
Ryan Cowling:
“Thank you to all the people who’ve helped me along this journey—family, friends, teammates, support staff. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with the team and cherish the amazing memories. I wish you all the best in Paris, I’ll be cheering you on.”
From everyone at GBWR, we want to thank Ryan for all he has done for the sport and our organization over the years. We wish him all the success in his future endeavours.
