Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby is teaming up with Worcester Warriors Community Foundation to bring wheelchair rugby to the county, with a series of taster sessions which will take place at Perdiswell Leisure Centre Bilford Road, Worcester WR3 8DX, over four Friday evenings on 15th, 22nd & 29th October and the 5th November from 7 to 9pm.
An exciting fusion of ice hockey, handball, and rugby, the game was originally founded in Canada in 1977. It’s not only based on speed and chair contact, but is also a tactically intelligent game to be involved in. With the aim of driving the ball across the opponents’ try line, contact between wheelchairs is permitted, as players use their chairs to block and hold opponents. The emphasis of the sport is on fun, excitement, and inclusion.
The taster sessions are open to adult players with a physical impairment; you don’t need to be a wheelchair user to take part. We will welcome players of any ability, new players who have never tried this sport before, old players who have played previously but are thinking of playing again, as well as anyone who would just be interested in volunteering.
If the sessions are successful, Worcester Warriors Community foundation are hoping to develop a local wheelchair rugby team with regular training sessions, which will be the first in Worcestershire. Paul Arnold (GBWR Regional Development Officer) commented,
“It would be brilliant to have a wheelchair rugby club with the Worcester Warriors. On the back of the gold medal at the Paralympics it will be exciting to offer disabled people in Worcestershire the opportunity to take part in our sport.”
Warriors Foundation Adapted Sports Lead Chris Stephenson expressed
“We are very excited to be able to offer the opportunity to participate in Wheelchair Rugby here in Worcestershire. At the Warriors Community Foundation, we strive to create exposure to sports with a fun and inclusive atmosphere and we strongly encourage anyone who thinks Wheelchair Rugby could be for them to try this extremely integrative sport”.
This is a mixed team sport for both male and female physically disabled people. Sessions will be free and well be open to anyone interested in learning more about the game, including volunteers.
For further details or to register to take part please contact paul.arnold@gbwr.org.uk or chris.stephenson@warriors.co.uk.
