Allied Mobility Sponsor Wheelchair Rugby

Following the news that lockdown restrictions will soon be relaxed, Scotland Rugby League wasted no time gearing up to welcome players back safely.  The governing body for the sport in Scotland also announced the return of their annual wheelchair rugby tournament, the Celtic Cup and Allied Mobility were delighted to become an official partner for this year’s event.  After having to postpone last year’s competition, there’s everything to play for when it kicks off on the 12^th of June.

Back in Play for Disability Sport

The Celtic Cup tournament has been running since 2015, with the wheelchair rugby squads of Ireland, Scotland and Wales fighting to claim the coveted trophy.  This year sees Scotland as the host country with the series of deciding matches between the teams playing out at Sport & Exercise Pleasance in Edinburgh.  It’s been a long time coming and after such a long hiatus due to lockdowns and the squads involved are keener than ever to get back to it.  Operations Director of Scotland Rugby League, Ollie Cruikshank, told us how important it was for disability sports in particular to get up and running again.

He said: “Returning to play is going to play a huge role in the UK’s recovery (post-pandemic).  This is magnified even more in disability sport which will be one of the last areas to have restrictions lifted.  The sooner we can get back to providing a safe, engaging environment then the quicker we can start to have a positive impact on areas such as anxiety and depression, and general wellbeing.”

Wheelchair Rugby in Everyone’s League!

While the Celtic Cup is something to look forward to for already established fans of wheelchair rugby, sports clubs around the country are hoping that the return of disability sports will encourage more people to join up.  Not only are sports like wheelchair rugby a fantastic and accessible way to stay active, but for the many disabled people who have been forced to shield for the last year, wheelchair rugby can offer a fantastic social opportunity.  Many players see it as a chance to make new and lasting friendships as well as keeping fit.  Captain of the Scottish Wheelchair Rugby team, Jay Anderson, explained that there’s something for everyone in wheelchair rugby, whether you’re a novice or have higher aspirations in the sport.

He enthused: “This amazing game changes lives in so many ways.  It can provide a social network, peer support, physical exercise, mental and emotional wellbeing.  If you wish to play for fun, you will fall in love with the game.  If, however, you want to set your sights higher, there is an opportunity to represent your country in the 2021 World Cup.”

Everyone at Allied Mobility is extremely excited to partner up with Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League and wish the teams in the Celtic Cup all the best in their preparations ahead of the tournament.  We’ll be bringing you lots of team news in the coming months so stay tuned!

If you’d like to find out more about the Scottish Wheelchair Rugby League, head over to https://www.scotlandrl.com/scotland-wheelchair-rl/.