Jonathan Coggan MBE
Classification: 0.5
Date of birth: 25/04/1983
Home town: Hertford
Club: London Wheelchair Rugby Club
Disability: Spinal injury
Biography
Jonathan “Jonny” Coggan is one of the most experienced and respected athletes in British wheelchair rugby. His journey into the sport began after a car accident in 2000, which left him with a spinal injury. A keen footballer before his injury, Jonny was inspired while watching the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games from his hospital bed. During rehabilitation at Stoke Mandeville, he was introduced to a range of Paralympic sports and quickly found his passion in wheelchair rugby, drawn to its intensity and team spirit.
Jonny began playing club rugby in 2001, and just a year later, he was invited on a World Rugby Tour with the GB development squad, visiting San Diego, Sydney, Singapore, and Cape Town. He earned his first full international cap in Athens in 2004, and has since been a permanent fixture in the GB squad, competing in six consecutive Paralympic Games: Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024.
A 0.5 classification player, Jonny is widely regarded as one of the best in the world in his class. He played a key role in Great Britain’s historic gold medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, and was part of the squad that narrowly missed out on a medal at Paris 2024, finishing fourth after a close 50–48 loss to Australia.
In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Jonny was awarded an MBE following the Tokyo Games. He is not only a leader on the court but also a role model within the squad, mentoring younger players and helping to shape the future of British wheelchair rugby.
Off the court, Jonny holds qualifications in Public Services from his time at Southend College, and continues to be a passionate advocate for disability sport and inclusion.
Playing history:
2025: European Championships – 3rd
2024: Quad Nations Wheelchair Rugby Tournament, UK – 3rd
2023: International Wheelchair Rugby Cup, Paris – 5th
2023: European Championships, Cardiff – 2nd
2022: World Championships, Denmark – 7th
2022: King Power Quad Nations Wheelchair Rugby Tournament, UK – 2nd
2022: European Championships, Paris – 2nd
2021: Tokyo Paralympics – 1st
2021: King Power Quad Nations Wheelchair Rugby Tournament, UK – 1st
2020: King Power Quad Nations Wheelchair Rugby Tournament, UK – 2nd
2019: World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge, Tokyo – 4th
2019: European Championships, Denmark – 1st
2018: World Championships, Australia – 4th
2017: European Championships, Germany – 1st
2016: Rio Paralympics – 5th
2016: Canada Cup – 5th
2016: Paralympic Test Event, Rio – 1st
2015: BT World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge – 5th
2015: European Championships, Finland – 1st
2014: World Championships, Denmark – 5th
2013: European Championships – 3rd
2012: London Paralympics – 5th
2011: European Championships, Switzerland – 2nd
2010: World Championships, Canada -6th
2009: European Championships, Denmark – 4th
2008: Beijing Paralympics – 4th
2007: European Championships, Finland – 1st
2006: World Championships, New Zealand – 4th
2005: European Championships, Denmark – 1st
2004: Athens Paralympics – 4th