Dates: Friday–Saturday, 6–7 March 2026
Venue: Beacon of Light, Sunderland
Live Stream: Hosted by Kino Sports
Title Partner: Allied Mobility
Wheelchair Partner: RGK Wheelchairs

The Allied Mobility Wheelchair Rugby Nationals made a trip north to the Beacon of Light last weekend, delivering two days of fast-paced action, big hits, and brilliant energy. The event showcased everything that makes wheelchair rugby special — teamwork, competitive spirit, and a welcoming community atmosphere that filled the venue from the first whistle to the last.

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Nationals Highlights

• Deserved champions were crowned in both divisions after two outstanding finals (full results below).
• We welcomed three international imports — one from the USA and two from France — who added exciting new dynamics on court.
• The live stream was our best yet, delivered by Kino Sports, with Stuart McLindon coordinating a full weekend of insightful commentary.
• A huge thank you to our referees and officials for maintaining excellent standards throughout the event — and a special congratulations to Marcus Ross, who received his International Referee Certificate on Saturday.
• Thank you to all GBWR staff and volunteers whose planning and on-site support helped deliver a smooth, professional event.
• The Beacon of Light proved once again to be an exceptional venue: accessible, spacious, and supported by a friendly, hard-working staff team.
• We welcomed new supporters who joined us after seeing GBWR’s Facebook advertising — adding fresh faces and new voices to the crowd.
• ITV Tyne Tees captured interviews with Jason and Rhumbie, while The Times attended with a photographer experiencing wheelchair rugby for the first time. Coverage appeared in print on Tuesday 10 March.
• Thank you to Euan’s Guide for exhibiting throughout the weekend, and to RGK Wheelchairs for their support and for taking part in the RGK vs GBWR exhibition match — a fun and eye‑opening introduction to the technical demands of the sport.

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How the Games Played Out

The competition unfolded across two intense days of action. On Friday, London Crusaders overpowered North East Bulls Udders (66–39), while LT Swifts delivered a composed and consistent performance to defeat West Coast Burn (60–37), setting up a strong final matchup.
Saturday saw West Coast Crash take a 56–44 win over c, and Leicester Tigers edge out North East Bulls in a dramatic 51–49 contest.
The bronze medal matches produced confident performances from West Coast Burn and Cheltenham Tigers, and both finals lived up to expectations.
LT Swifts closed out a commanding 51–36 win over London Crusaders, while West Coast Crash held on in a nail-biting 59–57 victory over Leicester Tigers. The standard across the weekend was exceptional, with every team contributing to a memorable Nationals.

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Results

Friday 6 March 2026

Semi‑Finals

• London Crusaders 66 def. North East Bulls Udders 39
• LT Swifts 60 def. West Coast Burn 37

Saturday 7 March 2026

Semi‑Finals

• West Coast Crash 56 def. Cheltenham Tigers 44
• Leicester Tigers 51 def. North East Bulls 49

Bronze Medal Matches

• West Coast Burn 53 def. North East Bulls Udders 23
• Cheltenham Tigers 44 def. North East Bulls 36

Finals

• LT Swifts 51 def. London Crusaders 36
• West Coast Crash 59 def. Leicester Tigers 57

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Individual Honours

Division One — All‑Star Selections

• 0.5: Jack Smith (Bulls)
• 1.0: Ryan Cowling (Crash)
• 1.5: Harri Jenkins (Crash)
• 2.0: Chuck Melton (Cheltenham) (International Import – USA)
• 2.5: Josh Williams (Crash)
• 3.0: Millie Partridge (Cheltenham)
• 3.5: Theo Baraton (Bulls) (International Import – France)
  RGK Wheelchairs MVP: Ollie Whitman

Division Two — All‑Star Selections

• 0.5: Callan Rawnsley (Burn)
• 1.0: Meg Jenkinson (Udders)
• 1.5: Jack Coulson (Swifts)
• 2.0: Joel Saunders (London)
• 2.5: Luke Collier (Swifts)
• 3.0: Nichola Charlton (Swifts)
• 3.5: Matthew Smedley (Burn)
  Science in Sport MVP: Ryan Raghoo (London)

Officials’ Appreciation Award: Simon Star

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Thank You

• Allied Mobility – Title Sponsor
• RGK Wheelchairs – Official Wheelchair Partner
• Euan’s Guide – Accessibility partner and exhibitor
• Kino Sports – Outstanding live stream delivery
• Stuart McLindon – Commentary coordination
• Referees & Officials – Professionalism across both days
• Beacon of Light – Fantastic venue and staff
• GBWR Staff & Volunteers – Delivery, planning and support

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What’s Next?

Full match replays are now available on the GBWR YouTube channel.
Watch all games from the Nationals here

Photo galleries from both days will launch on our Facebook page this week.

Stay tuned to our channels for updates on upcoming 3v3 and WR5s fixtures, including dates, venues and live‑stream details.