St Mary’s University, Twickenham (SMU) has held its first Wheelchair Rugby League Festival as part of the University’s 175th Anniversary celebrations taking place this year. The event took place on Tuesday 4th March in the Performance Hall on campus.
The Wheelchair Rugby League Festival saw St Mary’s staff take on students in the first game, followed by a combined St Mary’s team playing against a London Invitational side.
The London Invitational team included local players from Elmbridge Eagles, players from the London Roosters (London’s Wheelchair Super League team), as well as England internationals. England are the current holders of the Rugby League World Cup, having beaten France 28-24 in 2022.
Also in attendance were England’s Wheelchair Rugby League Head Coach, Tom Coyd MBE, and the England General Manager and Chair of the Wheelchair Rugby League, Martin Coyd OBE.
Wheelchair Rugby is a mixed-team sport played indoors on a regulation-size basketball court. A match consists of four eight-minute quarters, with the team that scores the most goals getting the win.
In the first game, St Mary’s students secured victory over the staff with a score of 36 to 16. The second game saw the London Invitational Team win 36 against the St Mary’s team, who had a score of 18.
Prior to the Festival, student and qualified coach Lucy Howard provided Wheelchair Rugby League training to interested staff and students, supported by the St Mary’s Rugby League team coach Kevin Rudd.
Speaking on the Wheelchair Rugby League Festival, Head of Sports St Mary’s Andrew Reid-Smith said, “The Festival, as part of St Mary’s 175th celebrations, provided a really special event. Wheelchair Rugby is an exciting and inclusive sport, and it was incredible to see student, staff, and club players wheeling alongside and connecting with England’s world-class players.”
Chair of the Wheelchair Rugby League Martin Coyd added, "It was a tremendous event with so much fresh new talent and energy on display to embrace this wonderful game. We look forward to welcoming other Wheelchair RL University teams to get involved with the sport and thank St Mary's, their staff, and students for being there right from the start and for their continued support for Wheelchair RL in British Universities."
Kevin Rudd said, "It was great to see so many people get behind this magical event to celebrate 175 years of history at the University. In the first game, the staff and students played some great rugby league, with the students' greater wheelchair rugby experience just telling in the end. As for the Combined St Marys Team vs the London Invitational Team, this was a skilful display and a delight and joy to see players from Brunel University, Elmbridge Eagles, London Roosters, and England Internationals combine to take the ‘W’ against a spirited St Marys Performance."
Founded in 1850, St Mary’s University is one of the country’s oldest Higher Education Institutions and has been inspiring excellence for 175 years. Having achieved full university status in 2014, St Mary’s is also one of the top-rated modern universities nationally, and has ambitious plans for the future, including its new School of Medicine, to ensure it continues to make a positive impact locally, nationally and globally.
