What does wheelchair rugby mean to me?
Why We Play Wheelchair Rugby Campaign
Helen Thompson
We asked the amazing Helen Thompson from Stoke Mandeville Maulers how important wheelchair rugby is in her life and asked her to put her response in writing. This is what wheelchair rugby means to Helen.
What does wheelchair rugby mean to me?
This simple question could lead me to so many answers, and if asked to another person even more different answers. On any day, my answer could be different depending on the hat I am wearing at the time. I shall, however, try to elaborate.
Wheelchair rugby means I have a fun reason to leave the house!
I came out of lock down very isolated from the world, and with my mobility having suffered from lack of activity, I knew I needed to do something to get myself moving again. But what? A bit of a google search and I had the answer, wheelchair rugby! I contacted my local team and went along to give it a go, needless to say, I had a great time and when I was asked if I’d come again the following week, the answer was a definitive, yes! Wheelchair rugby means I had a fun reason to leave the house!
Wheelchair rugby means friendship!
I continued to train every week, and found I really enjoyed being competitive in a team sport again, it had been 30 years since I’d played ice hockey. In the last 30 years I had predominately played solo sports. I loved being part of a team and going to tournaments was great fun, meeting and socialising with people from all over the country (and since then the world), who came together to play rugby, competitive on court, but like one big team off court. Wheelchair rugby means friendship!
Wheelchair rugby means success!
I have been so lucky to get to play in various tournaments in the UK and Europe. I’ve played tournaments where we have won the league. Success! I’ve played tournaments where we have lost all our games, where we went in knowing that all our opponents were stronger than us, but we turned up and gave it everything we had. Success! And everything in between, it’s important in the game (and in life) to give it 100%, even if today’s 100%, and tomorrows 100%, both look very different. Sometimes, just turning up is a win. Wheelchair rugby means success!
Wheelchair rugby is developing and inspiring!
I have been offered so many amazing opportunities through wheelchair rugby. I’ve had the pleasure of being allowed to go to performance pathway sessions, to train with some of our upcoming talent on NTC, and to observe and coach at a talent camp. These are great ways to learn and give back to the wheelchair rugby community, most of whom give up their free time willingly to help us develop. I get to earn my lunch helping to referee and officiate at domestic competitions. I get to pass on what I have learned by coaching, both at club level, and at events such as the Inter Spinal Unit Games. Wheelchair rugby is developing and inspiring!
Wheelchair rugby means inclusivity!
It would be remis of me to not mention the #thisgirlcan movement. I have been very lucky to have been asked to do various things encompassing female participation in wheelchair rugby, from sitting on panels, to attending female training camps, helping Loughborough University with research into classification for female athletes, and of course the Women’s Cup representing Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby! Of all the things I do relating to wheelchair rugby, I feel that this holds the greatest importance to me, and the thing I get the most rewarding experiences from. Wheelchair rugby means inclusivity!
There are so many facets to wheelchair rugby that some people enjoy, and others may not, choose the aspects that mean something to you. To answer the original question, what does wheelchair rugby mean to me?
Wheelchair rugby means Friendship, Success, inspiration, development, fun, inclusivity. Wheelchair rugby means everything, what does it mean to you?
Would you like to have your chance to write about how important wheelchair rugby is in your life?
Please email mick.armstrong@gbwr.org.uk with your answer to the question “What does wheelchair rugby mean to me?”
