Wheelchair Rugby Quad Nations Exhibition Match

Saturday 3rd of March saw another milestone for women’s participation in wheelchair rugby, with a Women’s Exhibition match being featured at the prestigious Wheelchair Rugby Quad Nations held in Leicester.

The day started with a Women’s Development Session lead by experienced coach Luke White. At this session women from across the UK came together to learn more about the game and develop their fundamental skills. For me this session highlighted the potential of women in wheelchair rugby and enabled us to practice in a fun yet competitive environment.

In the evening I was privileged to be part of a women’s team that was showcasing the sport at the Quad Nations. This game was livestreamed on the BBC which allowed the match to gain a wider audience and encourage more women to get involved. The teams were made up of female players from all three divisions of the Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby  League. The squads, which were captained by myself and fellow GB Talent Squad player Faye West, included women with a range of experience from Paralympian Coral Batey to up and coming talent such as Tilly Robinson and Ella Beaumont.

On the night it was an incredibly close game with the Vixens narrowly defeating the Warriors. Personally, this was a great experience for me as I not only had the opportunity to take part in the Quad Nations but also had the chance to play alongside and against some of the awesome women in wheelchair rugby.  

Gemma Lumsdaine, Young Persons Sports Panel