Wheelchair Rugby 5s Rolls into the Beacon of Light

Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby is rolling into the Beacon of Light on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 April 2024.

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.

The Allied Mobility Wheelchair Rugby 5s competition tips off at 9am and will go on until 5pm each day. Admission is free to all and all sports fans are welcome to join the action.

Fiona Murphy the Foundation of Light events manager said “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.”

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 showcased across the country to encourage more players, volunteers, and supporters. GBWR competitions manager Adam Simmons is excited to be heading to the North East “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.”Councillor John Price, Cabinet Member for Vibrant City at Sunderland City Council, said: We’re delighted to be hosting national wheelchair rugby in our city for the very first time. Along with the Beacon of Light, we’re looking forward to giving them a warm Sunderland welcome and making them feel at home in our city.

“With a national rugby wheelchair tournament in April and hosting the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in August 2025, this is shaping up to be an especially exciting time for rugby in Sunderland and I’d encourage everyone to go along and watch if they get the chance.”

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, visit the GBWR website by clicking here.