As the Rugby League World Cup leaves behind a legacy that has increased interest in Wheelchair Rugby League, the Warrington Wolves Foundation are working hard to continue this legacy in the development of its wheelchair programme. The start of our wheelchair programme began in 2018 when the Disability team spoke and wanted to make sure the foundation was offering as many different avenues as possible to Rugby League for people with disabilities. At this point we already had our Learning Disability and Physical Disability formats of the game so the team thought this would put us in a good position to expand our Disability Rugby League programme. In 2019 we played in the challenge cup and subsequently got entered into the development league for the 2020 season. Unfortunately, due to covid our first proper season abruptly came to an end and as restrictions were not lifted in time the 2021 season never happened either. However, when the 2022 season came around we played in the new championship league which the team won, this was also the year of the world cup which 3 of the Warrington players played in, representing Ireland and Scotland. Due to the team winning the league we were then promoted to the super league for the 2023 season, unfortunately this was more challenging than we first thought …
Which leads us into the new 2024 season, back in the championship with a brand-new coaching set up and a team that are more motivated than ever to show what Warrington has to offer
As part of the further development of the programme, we have been going into schools around Warrington delivering wheelchair taster sessions allowing the children the opportunity to have a go at a sport they may otherwise not be able to try. This academic year we have managed to deliver in 10 schools with nothing but good reviews from children and teachers, many teachers saying that the children don’t stop talking about the experience and asking when they can next do it again. Doing these sessions also allows us at the foundation to raise awareness of disability sport and champion the word ‘inclusivity’ by introducing to the children a completely adapted sport so that able bodied and people with disabilities can all play on the same pitch. Having the ability to change perceptions of disabilities, disability sport and the things that people can achieve is one of the best things about being part of the change at Warrington Wolves.
Many of the students that take part have played rugby before either as part of a community club or when the Rugby League team have been in their school for a term. This adds to the excitement as they already know and love the sport and can transfer their skills in a different way. Sometimes it may take them a while to get used to having to use their hands to pass and move themselves but being able to watch that ‘green light’ moment when they get the hang of it is something you don’t always get to witness in such a small amount of time.
Arnold Clark partnering with us and providing a van has had major benefits to the foundation, meaning we will be able to offer the taster sessions to more schools next year and for the first time on Sunday it will be used for the Warrington Wolves Wheelchair Rugby League team to transport all their chairs and equipment down to Hereford for their first league game of the season. This means players don’t have to transport their own chairs and for some who can’t drive this has meant one less thing to worry about when preparing for a game.
Thank you Arnold Clark for your support.
Arnold Clark is Europe’s largest independent, family-run car retailer. With over 200 branches in the UK, the company sells over 200,000 cars a year in locations stretching from Elgin to Southampton.
