WR5s Nationals 2025: Leicester Tigers and Leicester Swifts Crowned Champions
Stoke Mandeville Stadium played host to a thrilling weekend of WR5s action as teams from across the country battled for glory in the Cup and Shield competitions at the WR5s Nationals 2025. With fast-paced gameplay, fierce rivalries, and standout performances, the event showcased the very best of wheelchair rugby fives.
Cup Final: Leicester Tigers Triumph
The Leicester Tigers delivered a dominant performance throughout the tournament, culminating in a 61–45 victory over the impressive RGC Barbarians in Sunday’s Cup Final. Led by standout players including Tom Folwell, Joe Smith, and Mark Peters, the Tigers combined tactical precision with explosive power to secure the national title.
The RGC Barbarians, featuring a strong lineup including Jac Sheehan, Kevin Wilkinson, and rookie Francesca Di Giorgio, pushed hard in the final but couldn’t match the Tigers’ relentless pace and depth.
Cup Bronze Match:
Help for Heroes edged out Northampton Saints in a nail-biting 41–40 finish to claim third place, with standout performances from Gary Callier and Pete Dunning.
Shield Final: Leicester Swifts Edge Sharks in Thriller
In the Shield competition, the Leicester Swifts emerged victorious after a tense final against Team Solent Sharks, winning 47–40. The Swifts, featuring a balanced squad including Luke Collier, Hayley Cassin, and Jop Van Der Laan, showed resilience and composure under pressure.
Shield Bronze Match:
The Ospreys secured third place with a 49–43 win over the Berkshire Banshees, capping off a strong tournament for the Welsh side.
Watch Back on YouTube
Selected games were live streamed on GBWR’s YouTube channel and are still available to watch. Relive the action here.
Full Results
Cup Competition
Group Stage – Saturday 25 October
- Northampton Saints 62 – 19 Penrith Pumas
- RGC Barbarians 62 – 41 Crawley Jets
- Crawley Jets 40 – 52 Help for Heroes
- Penrith Pumas 22 – 75 Leicester Tigers
- Leicester Tigers 61 – 36 Northampton Saints
- Help for Heroes 39 – 46 RGC Barbarians
Knockout – Sunday 26 October
- Semi-Final 1: RGC Barbarians 51 – 35 Northampton Saints
- Semi-Final 2: Leicester Tigers 68 – 30 Help for Heroes
- Bronze Match: Help for Heroes 41 – 40 Northampton Saints
- Final: Leicester Tigers 61 – 45 RGC Barbarians
- 5th/6th Playoff: Crawley Jets 53 – 35 Penrith Pumas
Shield Competition
Group Stage – Saturday 25 October
- Dragons 26 – 50 Leicester Swifts
- West Country Hawks 23 – 54 Team Solent Sharks
- Ospreys 65 – 20 West Country Hawks
- Leicester Swifts 57 – 32 Berkshire Banshees
- Team Solent Sharks 51 – 40 Ospreys
- Berkshire Banshees 47 – 33 Dragons
Knockout – Sunday 26 October
- Semi-Final 1: Team Solent Sharks 52 – 32 Berkshire Banshees
- Semi-Final 2: Leicester Swifts 47 – 46 Ospreys
- Bronze Match: Ospreys 49 – 43 Berkshire Banshees
- Final: Leicester Swifts 47 – 40 Team Solent Sharks
- 5th/6th Playoff: West Country Hawks 40 – 37 Dragons
Individual Honours: Best in Class & SiS MVP Awards presented by RGK Wheelchairs
Cup Awards
- 0.5: Dan Kellett (RGC Barbarians)
- 1.0: Keiran Green (Crawley Jets)
- 1.5: Beth (Crawley Jets)
- 2.0: Tristan (Northampton Saints)
- 3.0: Joe Smith (Leicester Tigers)
- 4.0: Gary Callier (Northampton Saints)
- SiS MVP: Mark Peters (Leicester Tigers)
- Official Appreciation Award: Charlotte Heywood
Shield Awards
- 0.5: Bruno (West Country Hawks)
- 1.0: Summer Purser Wood (Berkshire Banshees)
- 1.5: Trish Duffy (Team Solent Sharks)
- 2.0: Francis Johnny (Team Solent Sharks)
- 3.0: Neil Martin (Team Solent Sharks)
- 4.0: Mike Tate (Berkshire Banshees)
- SiS MVP: Corey Cox (Ospreys)
WR5s Welcomes World-Class Imports
This year’s WR5s Nationals marked a significant milestone for the sport, showcasing its growing international appeal. Two Paralympic imports brought world-class experience to the tournament:
- Jop Van Der Laan (Holland) – representing Leicester Swifts, added European flair and tactical depth to the Shield champions.
- Mark Peters (Denmark) – a key figure for Leicester Tigers, whose leadership and skill helped secure the Cup title.
Their participation demonstrates that WR5s is no longer just a domestic competition—it’s attracting attention from elite athletes worldwide and introducing the format to a broader audience. This international involvement signals exciting opportunities for future cross-border collaboration and development.
Welcoming RGK Wheelchairs: GBWR’s Official Wheelchair Partner
GBWR is proud to announce RGK Wheelchairs as its new official wheelchair partner. Martin attended the WR5s Nationals on behalf of RGK, meeting and chatting with clubs and players throughout the weekend.
As part of their support, RGK provided cool caps and stylish backpacks to all Best in Class winners, adding an extra touch of celebration to the awards. This partnership marks an exciting step forward for GBWR, ensuring athletes have access to world-class equipment and strengthening the connection between the sport and leading wheelchair technology.
Learn more about the partnership here.
Teams & Players
WR5s Nationals Cup Teams
Leicester Tigers: Lauren Saphir, Kaitlyn Kaminski, Lewis Evans, Mark Peters, Nichola Charlton, Clive Smith, Tom Folwell, Dave Wilkinson, Jules Allen, Steven Boulton, Carl Misselbrook, Joe Smith
Northampton Saints: Kascie Higgins, Sabrin Meyzinev, Ali Crosby, Charlotte Woolworth, Matthew Sellers, Billy Johnson, Michael Nixon, Steve Montgomery, Tristan Nattrass, Matt Hunt, Gary Callier
RGC Barbarians: Dan Kellett, Francesca Di Giorgio, Hilary Morgan, Sam Beecroft, Abbie Potts, Jac Sheehan, Adam Robson, Kevin Wilkinson, Mark Baines, Mick Armstrong
Help for Heroes: Ashley Hall, Andrew McEvoy, Arron Dindyal, David Anderson, Jason Finlay, Mac McLaren, Noel Howard, Peter Dunning, Stuart Bell, Vicki Ross
Crawley Jets: Colin Watson-Brown, Kieren Green, Beth Fearn, Jonny Dawson-Ellis, Angel Mills, Callum Degan, Dan Caraccio, Ella Bouvard, James Randall, Sam Cole, Natalie Hurrell
Penrith Pumas: Alexander Evans, Byron White, Jeremy Norman, Josh Tudge, Matthew Smedley, Oliver Whiteman, Lee Thomas, Sarah Burrows, Ian Whiteman, Michael Lewis
WR5s Nationals Shield Teams
Leicester Swifts: Annah Vickery, Jack Coulson, Carl Sanger, Hayley Cassin, Jop Van Der Laan, Luke Collier, Levi Dewey, Alfie Vaughan, Andy Rayner, Karl Major, Sarah Bennett, Thomas Maddison
Team Solent Sharks: Krissie Ransom, Emma Walton, Griffin Given, Trish Duffy, Eyan Naylor, Francis Johnny, Nigel Melly, Braydon Parry, Neil Martin, Rhys Saddler
Ospreys: Gareth Stokes, Karleigh West, Arran Flay, Nathan Flay, Bruce Falkenberg, Corey Cox, Kane Scourfield, Claire Blackburn, Lauren Parsons
Berkshire Banshees: Loch O’Higgins, Rachel Burdett, Summer Purser Wood, Alex Thraxton, Andy Newell, Sally Sycha, Chris Fraser, Dan Cedrola, Mason Fuller, Abigail Hill, Amanda Pye, Mike Tate
West Country Hawks: Adam Simmons, Bruno Carrico, Ian Farrant, Jesse Evans, Nicole Benjamin, Barrie White, Hannah Boyle, Joe Blake-Turner, Nick Watkins, Nina Ware, Ray Lowrie, Bryony Dyer
Dragons: Brad Hedges, Ieuan Coombes, Daryl Jones, Julian Osborne, Steve Walford, Tom Ebo, Drew Wilkinson, Steve Slade, Craig Godsall, David Bradley
Thank You
A huge thank you to everyone involved: players, coaches, volunteers, referees, table officials, fans, spectators, and the team at Stoke Mandeville Stadium for making this event a success.
What’s Next? Upcoming GBWR Events
- Allied Mobility Wheelchair Rugby Division One – Tournament 1
22–23 November 2025 | Stoke Mandeville Stadium
Event Details - Allied Mobility Wheelchair Rugby Division Two – Tournament 2
29–30 November 2025 | Kettering Arena
Event Details - GBWR Women’s Development League – South
13 December 2025 | Stoke Mandeville Stadium
Event Details
For the full calendar, visit GBWR Event Calendar.
Photos by Adam Johnson
