Halifax WhRL sets an excellent example for inclusion

Halifax Wheelchair Rugby League Club (WhRL) is one of the first teams to start playing wheelchair rugby league in Great Britain.

“Unlike some sports, which have heavily adapted rules and restrictions, wheelchair rugby league was set up to be easily distinguished as a form of rugby league.”

Jack Brown, Halifax WhRL head coach, tells us about the vision.

“Our way is to use an inclusive approach to sport. So, we actively encourage non-disabled players, friends or family members to take part alongside our disabled players. We’ve found this approach helps athletes stick to a sport.”

Inclusive sports and activity opportunities have shown to be really important for disabled people in enabling friendships, having fun and staying motivated. Research undertaken by Activity Alliance shows three in four disabled people want to take part with non-disabled people. Jack tells us how the inclusiveness of wheelchair rugby league was a key part in him and his brother taking up the sport, and sticking at it.

“In my own personal experience, other wheelchair sports didn’t give me the opening to play alongside my brother, who is a double amputee, but Halifax WhRL allows me to play alongside him, and at an elite level too.”

Halifax WhRL has around 12 athletes playing for them, and a dedicated number of staff who take care of the wheelchairs, media, funding and wellbeing of the players.

“The sport is played five a-side, with a maximum of two non-disabled players on the pitch.”

Nathan Mulhall, who has cerebral palsy, has been involved in Halifax WhRL since 2013. He tells us how being able to attend this club with his non-disabled friends has made it easier for him to progress.

“When I started at the club a lot of my friends joined up with me so they could play alongside me. Being able to play with my friends, and the close relationships I have with them has all definitely helped me to progress in the game.”

Since joining the club, Nathan has gone on to be a part of the England Train-on squad, and his school friend, Thomas Martin is now a starting player in the Irish team.

Jack continues:

“One challenge I have found with wheelchair rugby is that some of our disabled players can find it hard to understand and accept non-disabled players.

This is purely because they feel they can’t compete with someone who has more manoeuvrability. However, we really try to encourage and support our players to push past this issue, because everyone, within their own right, has a place on the playing field.”

“Moving forward, our aim is to continue our inclusive approach and for everyone to continue to enjoy the sport. We are also looking to develop start-up teams and to inspire new teams and players to come forward and join in a sport which accepts everyone for who they are.”

For more information on Halifax Wheelchair Rugby League and to see videos of the sport in action, and tutorials of the game, head to their YouTube channel, Faxchat.

To find out more wheelchair sport opportunities visit WheelPower, a national charity for wheelchair sport that provides opportunities for disabled people to play sport and lead healthy active lifestyles.