Sheffield Eagles Junior Wheelchair Rugby League Set for Competitive Debut in Hull

21/10/2026

The Sheffield Eagles Junior Wheelchair Rugby League squad is preparing for an exciting new chapter, with the team set to make its competitive debut in Hull this Sunday, 25th October.

After starting up a couple of years ago, the team, consisting of eleven players, will play its first set of round-robin fixtures this Sunday against Hull FC, Hull KR, Wakefield Trinity and Castleford Tigers in East Yorkshire.

The junior programme provides young players with the opportunity to develop their wheelchair rugby league skills, train as part of a team and experience competitive sport in a supportive environment.

One player benefiting from the programme is 16-year-old Lucas Martin, who recently enjoyed a particularly busy weekend of wheelchair rugby league. Lucas was invited to St George’s Park in Burton, where he presented fellow Sheffield Eagles player Chris Haynes with his Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup shirt. Haynes and fellow Eagles player and England international Luis Domingos were attending a training camp ahead of representing England in Australia later this month.

The following day, Lucas made his Sheffield Eagles senior team debut at Dronfield Active. He was joined in the team by two more Eagles players preparing for the World Cup: Welsh international father and son Gareth and Sid Ramsey.

While opportunities to play alongside senior and international players are an exciting part of the pathway, the focus now turns to the Eagles’ Junior Wheelchair Rugby League squad and its upcoming competitive debut.

The junior sessions are designed to give young players the chance to build confidence, improve their skills and become part of the wider Sheffield Eagles wheelchair rugby league family. The squad welcomes young people interested in getting involved, whether they are new to the sport or looking to develop their existing skills.

Eagles Foundation Project Delivery Officer John Smith said: “I’m very excited for the junior wheelchair players as they take part in their first-ever festival this weekend in Hull.

“They have been working very hard on their skills in a chair and have really come on.

“I’d like to give a special mention to Ben Pierce-Berry, who we’ve selected as the first-ever captain of our Junior Wheelchair team. It’s a great reward for the resilience he’s shown.”

The Junior Wheelchair Rugby League squad trains at the Institute of Sport on Tuesdays at 5pm.

For more information about the junior programme, please contact Project Delivery Officer John Smith at john.smith@eaglesfoundation.co.uk.