Yorkshire duo join England wheelchair rugby league coaching team ahead of World Cup

Pictured, Wayne Boardman an established member of the Halifax and England playing squad. Photo credit: otherPictured, Wayne Boardman an established member of the Halifax and England playing squad. Photo credit: other
Pictured, Wayne Boardman an established member of the Halifax and England playing squad. Photo credit: other
A dynamic duo from Yorkshire have been called up to the coaching team for the England wheelchair rugby league team ahead of the World Cup in 2021.

Martyn Rothwell, a senior lecturer in sport coaching at Sheffield Hallam University, brings 17 years of experience to the role having previously managed the Rugby Football League's midlands player pathway.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He joins a new coaching structure, led by Tom Coyd, from the Medway Dragons club in Kent.

Mr Rothwell said he was forward to working closely with the players and the coaching team to help individuals and the team fulfill their potential.

Pictured, Martyn Rothwell, a senior lecturer in sport coaching at Sheffield Hallam University. Photo credit: otherPictured, Martyn Rothwell, a senior lecturer in sport coaching at Sheffield Hallam University. Photo credit: other
Pictured, Martyn Rothwell, a senior lecturer in sport coaching at Sheffield Hallam University. Photo credit: other

He added: "It is encouraging to see how the players have adapted during lockdown, continuing to prepare for the World Cup in unusual circumstances.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The commitment shown by the players will bode well for the preparation period between now and the tournament starting in November 2021."

They are joined by Yorkshire born Wayne Boardman, 45, an established member of the Halifax and England playing squad, who was paralysed following a motorcycle accident when he was 29.

Read More
Read more: Playing wheelchair rugby league has given England international Wayne...
The Duke of Sussex talks with Leeds Rhino player, James Simpson, in the Buckingham Palace gardens, London, as he hosts the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draws. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday January 16, 2020.  Photo credit: Yui Mok/PA WireThe Duke of Sussex talks with Leeds Rhino player, James Simpson, in the Buckingham Palace gardens, London, as he hosts the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draws. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday January 16, 2020.  Photo credit: Yui Mok/PA Wire
The Duke of Sussex talks with Leeds Rhino player, James Simpson, in the Buckingham Palace gardens, London, as he hosts the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draws. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday January 16, 2020. Photo credit: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Speaking about the inclusion of the Yorkshire pair Dave Rotheram, the RFL’s Chief On-Field Officer, said: "Wayne Boardman has been a key member of the team for several years and given his considerable experience as a wheelchair athlete, has been appointed to assist Tom. Martyn Rothwell completes the coaching team, bringing huge experience and know how."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Two members of the England Performance Unit – coach developer, Stuart Barrow, and Professor Ben Jones, the unit’s head of performance make up the rest of the team.

England Wheelchair had a busy year in 2019 with tours to France and Australia and while their results were very encouraging, the tours also provided the opportunity for a thorough assessment of our coaching structure.

Mr Rotheram added: "This is the most important and exciting period for Wheelchair Rugby League as we prepare to host the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in 2021.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"That has led to the decision to reshape the team with the appointment of Tom Coyd as head coach. Tom has been an assistant coach since the beginning of 2018 and is highly regarded by the players and impressed everyone with his work in France and Australia.

"This has been underlined with excellent leadership and innovation during the current period of restriction."

Sheffield has been announced as Rugby League World Cup 2021 host city for the France, Wales, Scotland and USA wheelchair sides. The Steel City will also welcome Greece’s men’s national rugby league team.

_____________________________

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.