The Management Team of Wheelchair Rugby League are delighted to announce the Performance Pathway Programme for 2015, a massive year for Wheelchair Rugby League.
A packed domestic season will culminate in a fantastic month in September 2015 which will see the Wheelchair Rugby League Grand Final, the first ever European Championships and the return on Great Britain v France Test Matches!
The Performance Pathway, for players eligible to play for England, will begin in January 2015 with an Open Session at Morley, Leeds. Further Open Sessions will take place in February and March leading up to selection for two squads at the end of March, England Knights and Great Britain.
The England Knights will prepare on a monthly basis for the European Championships which will take place in September, hopefully on British soil. The teams for the Euros will be England Knights, France Espoirs, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and hopefully, Malta and/or Serbia, making up a six team competition.
The Great Britain selections will be open to players from all four of the home nations – England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales – and will also take place in late March. The Great Britain team will also prepare on a monthly basis for a two test match series versus France, running at the same time as the Euro’s.
Martin Coyd, WhRL Chair said, “This is tremendously exciting year for all of our players and gives an opportunity for everyone to stake a claim to get on to one of the two Representative Programmes.
“We have some fantastic players and have been very close to France in the last two games. The standards of play have been rising for years and we are relishing the chance to give a chance to new players, coaches, volunteers. Match Officials and support staff.
“The set-up of the programme means that for the first three months, it is truly open and anyone and everyone can attend.
“Players will be coached, assessed and profiled and given a Development Plan, no matter their experience and capability. The assessment will take place over three months and give the coaching staff for Great Britain and England a real opportunity to select the best players to do a job.
“The length and frequency of the lead up time also gives people showing the right attitude and promise a chance to grow over the year, right up to September.
“Pulling on an international jersey is as big as it gets in sport and that pathway is open to all this year.”
All sessions will take place on Sunday’s at:
Morley Leisure Centre
LEEDS
LS27 9JP
Key Dates
11 Jan 15 – 12.30-16.30 hrs
01 Feb 15 – 13.30-16.30 hrs
08 Mar 15 – 13.30-16.30 hrs