Wheelchair Rugby 5s Rolls into Sunderland

 A full contact mixed gender sport that is fast paced, precise, and hard hitting, and it’s rolling into the City of Sunderland.

Wheelchair Rugby 5s is rolling into the city of Sunderland on Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th April 2024. The Allied Mobility Wheelchair Rugby 5s competition tips off at 9am and will go on until 5pm each day. Admission to the amazing Beacon of Light is free to all and all sports fans are welcome to join the action. Fiona Murphy the Foundation of Light events manager said this “Everyone at the Beacon of Light is excited to be part of the first wheelchair rugby tournament to be held in the City of Sunderland, and we hope that the city gets behind the sport.” 

Wheelchair rugby 5s is an action-packed wheelchair sport involving speed, full chair contact, hard hits, precision, physical determination, and teamwork, making it thrilling to watch as well as to play. Wheelchair rugby is played by both men and women, playing in the same teams and the same competitions. Jason Brisbane the CEO of Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby is excited to travel to the City of Sunderland “We are so proud to show case our sport to the people of Sunderland for the first time, and we hope that their passionate football supporters can get behind us.” 

Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) decided that the sport needed to be show cased across the country to encourage more players, volunteers, and supporters. GBWR competitions manager Adam Simmons is excited to be heading to the northeast “Everyone that we have worked with to put this wheelchair rugby event on in the city of Sunderland has been welcoming, professional and positive. We are all excited to show off our sport.” Victoria French from Sunderland City Council made these comments “What an honour for our city to be hosting a national wheelchair rugby competition in the amazing Beacon of Light, we know that the people of Sunderland will make everyone feel welcome and at home in our city.” 

How to get involved in wheelchair rugby in the northeast, there are two teams in the northeast: Newcastle Wheelchair rugby club who enter a team called the North East barbarians into the Allied Mobility WR5s Premiere league and the North East Bulls who are based in Sedgefield and are part of the Allied Mobility Wheelchair Rugby: Fours league. Mick Armstrong from the North East Barbarians cannot wait “We are so excited that Wheelchair Rugby Fives is coming to the North East for the first time. We get to play our first Premiership match close to home. The Beacon of Light sports complex is one of the best venues in the country and we cannot wait for the other clubs to experience Sunderland's famed hospitality.”  

If you would like to find out more information about the upcoming wheelchair rugby fives tournament weekend, then please go to the GBWR website