Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League Player Interview

With only one week until the kick-off of Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League’s Celtic Cup, we caught up with winger, Jay Anderson to talk big hits, everyday heroes and her hopes for Scotland in the upcoming fixtures.

AM: Hi Jay, thanks for chatting to us.  Tell us, how did you discover wheelchair rugby and what initially got you interested in the sport?

JA: I first heard about Dundee Dragons, a local wheelchair sports club, when I was out socially.  When I first went along, I tried all the sports they offered but rugby league was definitely the most challenging – and the most fun!  I loved the big hits [when wheelchairs collide during the match] and full contact that the other sports didn’t offer.  Although the concept of passing the ball backwards to go forwards was a bit of a scratch your head moment, the game just grabbed my attention very quickly.  Now, it’s the best decision I ever made.

AM: What do you enjoy most about the sport?

JA: The camaraderie amongst the players is a huge bonus!  We crash into one another for 80 minutes then have a laugh together after the whistle.  It’s a very inclusive sport which gives you the opportunity to meet so many diverse people.  But let’s not forget just how much fun the big hits are!

AM: Do you have a sporting hero you look up to?

JA: I don’t really have a sporting hero as such.  My heroes tend to be people I know personally.  My family and close friends, these are the people I most admire and learn from to grow as a person.  They’re truly amazing and I wouldn’t be half the person I am without their love and support.

AM: What are you looking forward to most in the upcoming Celtic Cup?

JA: I’m definitely looking forward to seeing everyone together again at the Celtic Cup, not just Scotland but all our Wales and Ireland friends also.  I hope that we (Scotland) put on a fantastic show of our abilities as hosts this year.  It’ll be great to see our new players take to the stage and get that first game under their belt and it’ll be an amazing time for Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League.

AM: Outside of rugby, what do you like to do?

JA: I love music, the radio is always on in my house.  I also like to try and get to a hockey match when I can as that was my first love pre rugby league.  When indoors, I tend to watch wheelchair rugby league games to try and find any extra tips that could help improve me as a coach and a player.

AM – Allied Mobility

JA – Jay Anderson