Eagles submit 2025 Betfred Wheelchair Super League application
27/11/2024
Sheffield Eagles and the Eagles Foundation have submitted an application to the Rugby Football League to take part in the Betfred Wheelchair Super League from the 2025 season.
The Eagles were crowned Champions of the Championship in 2024, having gone unbeaten during the league season and play-offs, and are now looking to further test it's squad in the top flight.
Sheffield Eagles boasts one of the largest playing rosters in Wheelchair Rugby League, with almost 25 players ready to register for the 2025 season, as well as a growing junior section which has been training for almost a year.
“We’re very excited to be submitted our application, hopefully beginning the next stage of our journey” commented David Butler, Chairperson of the Eagles Foundation, which operates the team.
“In 2022, we joined the Championship and lost every game that year, but we developed in 2023 and went unbeaten in 2024, and our players are looking for that next challenge. Super League will not be an easy prospect, but we will have time to grow and develop as we did before, and the additional profile and commercial opportunities that Super League brings will help us to further strengthen and grow this section of the club. It’s a very exciting time!”
Following their Grand Final win, several Eagles Wheelchair players found themselves earning representative honours, with youngsters Will Brooks and Chris Brown playing in the England Futures Junior Game, which took place prior to the England v France international in Wigan, whilst April Brooks, Vicky Brooks, Jenny Pearson and Stacey Roulson were also in action in the England Futures Women’s Game.
Earlier in the year, Will Brooks, Stephen Reilly and Chris Haynes were part of the England Futures programme, which eventually saw Haynes selected as part of the England National Performance Squad, and score two tries on debut for England in their match against Spain played in Nantes, France, capping a dream year.
Butler added “Our Wheelchair team has a long road ahead of it before we can be one of the top teams in Super League, but we have so much talent and opportunity within the squad that the time is right to test ourselves at the next level.
"That said, Super League is not the only ambition for the club, we have players at all levels who we intend to continue to give developmentally appropriate playing opportunities to, and on that basis alone, there will be more Wheelchair Rugby League taking place in Sheffield in 2025 than ever before!”
A decision on the application is expected in December 2024, with Edinburgh Giants also publicly confirming their application to join Halifax Panthers, Hull FC, Leeds Rhinos, London Roosters and Wigan Warriors in Super League.
