It’s been another significant period in the trailblazing Rugby League career of James Simpson MBE – although this weekend that will take a back seat to something much more personal.
Simpson, the former British Army soldier who became a face and voice of Wheelchair Rugby League around England’s 2022 World Cup triumph, will have a strong reason for missing Leeds Rhinos’ Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Semi Final against London Roosters in Barking on Saturday – he’ll be getting married in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
But last weekend he was making more history, and breaking more boundaries, as a member of Lancashire’s coaching staff for the first Academy Origin fixture of 2025.
The 38-year-old committed himself to coaching when he retired as a player in the months after England’s World Cup win. He had first taken on a coaching role with Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair team in 2019, and last autumn Simpson enjoyed a notable double triumph as the Rhinos clinched the Super League title with an emotional Grand Final win against Halifax Panthers, and he became the first product of Wheelchair Rugby League to earn his UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) Level 3 Certificate in Coaching Rugby League.
That led to his groundbreaking invitation from Paul Anderson, the RFL’s Head of England Pathways, to join the Lancashire coaching team for the Academy Origin fixture.
“I’m so grateful to Paul for taking that chance and giving me this experience,” Simpson reflected as he took a break from wedding preparations this week.
“I’ve been coaching Wheelchair Rugby League for six years so I’m pretty confident and comfortable in that environment. This was completely new, a long way out of my comfort zone. But I loved it. Shane Eccles and the coaching staff were brilliant, and it was a privilege for me to see up close the raw talent of the players.”
Simpson has been happy to leave the Rhinos in the capable hands of Michael Collins, the elder brother of England star Nathan who is his assistant coach, with England captain Tom Halliwell also stepping on to the coaching staff during his lengthy injury absence.
“It’s going to be a tough game against the Roosters, but I’ve got every faith in Michael, Tom and the lads. We had a good win in the last round against Hull without Tom and Nathan, which was important. I’ll probably check in on the score at some point, but we’ve had a no rugby rule for the wedding, because we’ve had to be quite strict on the guest list.”
And after a honeymoon in Portugal, Simpson will return to Rugby League as the Rhinos launch their bid to retain the Betfred Wheelchair Super League title – although it will be under a new name.
“We’re going double-barrelled, Mr and Mrs Simpson-Hill,” he explained – having met Josie Hill almost 13 years ago, when he was based in Wiltshire in a volunteering role for the London Paralympics.
“I’ve got the Celtic Cup with Scotland as soon as I’m back, and hopefully also the Challenge Cup Final if we make it.”
