It's fast, frenetic, skilful and quickly becoming one of rugby league’s big attractions.
Wheelchair rugby league looks to showcase its growing appeal again today when Leeds Rhinos face newcomers Catalans Dragons in the Challenge Cup final. Many of those involved warmed up for the event when starring in last week’s epic international between England and reigning world champions France. Leeds’ skilful Nathan Collins won plenty of admirers for his classy performance in helping England prosper 62-48.
And now he’s looking to back it up as Rhinos aim to retain the Cup they won as part of last year’s historic treble success. Collins said: "For me, Tom Halliwell and Josh Butler, it was a really good game to also get us going for this weekend with Leeds. It was a hard match against some of the Catalans players who’ll be playing in the Challenge Cup final as well. Hopefully we can do it again and I believe we can.”
Wheelchair rugby league is the most inclusive and accessible variant of the sport for all abilities. It offers both disabled and non-disabled players the chance to compete with and against each other. No matter what gender or age, all players in the five-a-side games compete on a level playing field.
Conversions are scored by punching the ball over the mini-posts from a tee and tackles are made in the same way as Tag Rugby by pulling off an attached tag. But some of the collisions as players manoeuvre around the court are colossal. Collins admitted: “It can be brutal but I’ve played this sport for close to 12 years now and I’ve kind of got used to the hits.
“They still get me now and again but once you’re in the middle you’re focused just on what’s ahead. I do love it. I could talk about it all day. It’s fast, skilful, there’s big hits and everything you’d want to see in rugby league but it’s just done in a wheelchair.”
Collins, 21, had played rugby league since an early age but took up wheelchair rugby aged 10. Each team includes three physically disabled players and two non-disabled players, all must play in a sports wheelchair and games last 80 minutes.
He said: “I really enjoyed it and kept coming back each week. It took me a couple of years to really get the hang of it and be able to push, catch the ball, move skilfully and get past players.
“You have to get used to the chair first. But once I got to about 15 I stopped playing the running game and decided to focus on wheelchair rugby league. Later that year I got picked to play for England in the World Cup at 16 years old. That was just amazing to be a part of. We didn’t win the final but to be there and be in the top ten in the world at that age was great.”
He hopes to lift more silverware with his club at Hull’s Allam Arena on Saturday. And then set the World Cup record straight when that tournament kicks off against Australia in London on November 3.
