As England’s Wheelchair World Cup heroes get set for Super League action this weekend, the RFL today announces a legacy of RLWC2021: the milestone of 200 new chairs for players and clubs in the community game since 2017.
25 clubs and organisations, from Scotland down to south-east England and from Swindon across to Hull, have now benefitted from more than £400,000 of funding – a total expected to hit the £1/2million mark as more and more clubs embrace this exciting version of Rugby League.
RFL National Inclusion Manager, Chris Godfrey, says: “The popularity of Wheelchair Rugby League has rocketed since England’s win in the World Cup, and CreatedBy and Sport England funding has given clubs and foundations the resources they need to create opportunities for even more people to enjoy the game. This is reflected in growing depth of Wheelchair Rugby League in the competitions underpinning the Super League, where we have a six-team Championship and three regional development divisions. Financial support, combined with the outstanding efforts of clubs and foundations alike, is making the game stronger all the time.”
Wheelchair funding beneficiaries
- Batley Sporting Foundation
- Bradford Bulls Foundation
- Brentwood Eels RLFC
- Eagles Foundation (Sheffield)
- Edinburgh Giants Wheelchair RL Club
- Halifax Wheelchair Club
- Hull FC Foundation
- Hull Kingston Rovers Community Trust
- Hull Wheelchair
- Leeds Rhinos Foundation
- Leigh Youth and Community Development Trust
- Medway Dragons
- Newcastle Rugby Foundation
- Oxford Brookes University
- Rochdale Hornets Sporting Foundation
- Salford Red Devils Foundation
- Scotland RL
- Soldiers League Charity
- St Helens Community Development Foundation
- Swindon St George Wheelchair
- Viking Sports Foundation
- Wakefield Trinity Community Trust
- Warrington Wolves Foundation
- Wigan Warriors Community Foundation
- York RLFC Foundation
Fixtures were announced earlier this month for a new-look Wheelchair Rugby League calendar, including a Magic Weekend in Newcastle in June, and other central events in Birmingham, London and Manchester.
The 10-round Wheelchair Super League kicks-off at Gillingham’s Medway Park Sports Centre on Saturday (18 March), when London Roosters play Hull FC. For more information, click here.
