Wheelchair Rugby Festival success

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josie andrews
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Wheelchair Rugby Festival success

Post by josie andrews »

Wigan Warriors first-ever wheelchair rugby festival a huge success.

Event hosted at Robin Park Leisure Centre showcased the sport to a new audience.

Wigan Council, Wigan Warriors, Robin Park Leisure Centre and LeisuretecUK contribute to making the event a huge success.

Wigan Warriors were delighted to stage their first-ever Wheelchair Rugby festival last weekend with two hugely entertaining games at Robin Park Leisure Centre.

The day consisted of development teams and Super League teams from Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos competing in exhibition fixtures.

Many of the players in the development game were playing their first ‘competitive’ fixture with others previously having only played a handful of times. Several international world cup stars were involved including five of England’s Wheelchair World Cup winners.

Wheelchair Rugby has been hailed as the most inclusive sport ever with teams featuring both disabled and non-disabled players, teams must have a split of three disabled and two non-disabled players on court at any time. The Warriors are boosted by the support of local company, Palatine Paints, who have supported the rise of Wheelchair Rugby League as front of shirt sponsors for the Warriors Wheelchair teams.

The event was a further development of existing relationships with Wigan Council, Leisuretec UK and The RFL who all played a part in making the event a major success.

Thanks to Cllr Chris Ready and Cllr Danny Fletcher for attending, Carl Cheetham, Gary Highton, Martin Turner from Robin Park Leisure Centre for hosting the event

Wigan Warriors Community Outreach Manager, Mike Stoneley said: “It was great to see so many players, some of whom had never played a full game of Wheelchair Rugby League before taking part in the event.

“This was the first time that we have staged something on this scale with so many partners involved and everything has come together how we expected it to, and that reflected in some of the feedback we have received during and after the event and we will undoubtedly repeat this type of event again.”

Take a look at our highlights from a fantastic day at Robin Park Leisure: (see video via link) https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2023/06/ ... l-success/

Councillor Chris Ready, Wigan Council’s portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “Our Be Well movement is all about making physical activity as accessible and inclusive as possible, which is why we’re proud to be working with Wigan Warriors to get more people involved in the incredible sport of Wheelchair Rugby League.

“It was a really fantastic event and a brilliant advert for a game that continues to go from strength-to-strength on the back of last year’s ground-breaking World Cup. This is very much just the beginning and we’re looking forward to hosting more exciting occasions at Robin Park Leisure Centre in the future.”

Leeds Rhinos Head Coach, James Simpson said: “Saturday was a major success and a huge coming together of Wheelchair Rugby League – two fantastic games played in great spirit. My highlight of the day was watching our new Community team take to the field for the very first time, and what a way to do it with a great crowd watching, the set up and atmosphere was brilliant. I know those players are still talking about it and what a totally different first game experience than I had a decade ago.

“I think Wigan Warriors have taken the game day experience level up a notch or two and shown what can be done so a huge well done and from all of us at Leeds Rhinos, a thank you for inviting us along to be a part of it”

Want to find out more about Wheelchair Rugby League and how to get involved? Email community@wiganwarriors.com.

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2023/06/ ... l-success/
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