Disabilities Aren’t Barriers: Hannah Bucys Says “Just Go for It”

To celebrate Disability History Month, we’ve been speaking with disabled people working across various industries to learn what they do, how they got there and gather some career advice for other disabled folks.  

Upon her return to the UK from competing with the Great Britain talent squad in the USA, this week, we caught up with wheelchair rugby star, Hannah Bucys, to find out more about her sporting career journey.  

Finding Wheelchair Rugby

Based in Hull, 22-year-old Hannah is a high pointer for West Coast Wheelchair Rugby Club and has represented Great Britain as part of the women’s team at last year’s World Cup.  

Reflecting on where her wheelchair rugby career started, she tells us that she discovered wheelchair rugby after sustaining a spinal cord injury at aged 16 during a freak trampolining accident at gymnastics training: 

“When I was in the spinal unit, there was a local wheelchair rugby team training and I was like ‘wow’, I wanted to get involved. So, I went to a couple of sessions around 2019 and properly started playing when I went to university in 2021 / 2022.” 

The Why  

Wheelchair rugby is a full-contact, action-packed sport often associated with hard hits, but behind the physicality is tactical gameplay and impressive teamwork. These elements are what Hannah says she enjoys most about the sport and why she keeps playing:  

“It’s not just about being physical; you’ve got to be smart. So, that tactical side of the game and that team element of working together to achieve that sort of shared goal is why I play.”  

Disability and Sport

Thinking about how her experience of disability has impacted her sporting career, Hannah tells us that sport has always been a massive part of her life, so following her injury she wondered whether she would find a sport that she could do and would be interested in. 

 “I’m very grateful and very lucky that I’ve found wheelchair rugby and I’m able to play it. I don’t think I would ever have gotten involved in wheelchair rugby and met the people that I’ve met if it wasn’t for my injury. I’ve made friends for life.” 

She continues, “I think my disability has enabled me to be build confidence, independence and communication skills all through sport.” 

Disability History Month  

Disability History Month means different things to different people, for Hannah it’s a time to raise awareness of different disabilities and celebrate the achievements and strength of disabled people: 

“Disabilities aren’t barriers, we’re just like everyone else. We just have different challenges that we face, but we all overcome them in our own ways and adapt. There are so many different disabilities and everyone is so different, but we are still human and we can still achieve anything that we put our mind to.” 

Just Go for It 

When asked what she’d say to other disabled people, especially women and girls interested in playing wheelchair rugby, Hannah shared some simple advice: 

“Just go for it!”  

“There aren’t many women and girls who play wheelchair rugby, it’s growing, it certainly is growing within the sport. I mean the club that I’m at now, I think at least three or four women play. So, I think go, just give it a go and see where it takes you.” 

Want to Learn More?

If you’re interested in attending a wheelchair rugby training session, find local clubs near you by visiting www.gbwr.org.uk/find-a-club   

Read previous Disability History Month blog posts with research fellow and scientist Dr Hamied Haroon here, and poet, songwriter and musician, Miss Jacqui, here.