Royal Navy Rugby League has worked closely with the Army’s Soldiers League charity to introduce Wheelchair Rugby League into this years Inter Services with the first round of matches taking place on 6th Sep 19 and will be staged at the gym in HMS Nelson, Portsmouth with competition getting underway at KO 1100.

The Competition will be run over a league format with the Royal Navy, Army and RAF playing each other once. Teams will consist of a maximum of 12 players, with 5 players per team playing at one time with unlimited substitutes. The Soldiers League charity will provide the match officials for the events.

All personnel interested in representing the Royal Navy in the competition are to contact CPO Steve Lockton, Steven.Lockton819@mod.gov.uk or PO Sutton Craig.Sutton382@mod.gov.uk

Any members of the military who wish to use this exciting new venture as an aid to their recovery are encouraged to apply. Individuals must also be self-medicating and independently mobile.
Serving applicants must either be: Classified as WIS, in accordance with single Service Recovery Policy (i.e. have an Individual Recovery Plan (IRP)). Applications are also welcome from those who are Medically downgraded but not on Recovery Duty (i.e. those who do not have an IRP but who are on restricted / limited duty at the time of the Games, which will generally be only those personnel who are permanently downgraded).

All three teams will be accommodated in Hotels within Portsmouth and the three services are immensely grateful once again to the Royal British Legion who besides being valued sponsors of RNRL are sponsoring the accommodation as well as the tournament itself.

The following from RBL emphasises their commitment to not only the Senior Service but to all services:
“The Royal British Legion is steadfast in its support of the Armed Forces and in particular the service men and women who make up the nation’s Regular and Reserve Forces. One such medium which highlights the Legion’s special relationship with the services is through sport, and we recognise the crucial role which sport plays in recovery and rehabilitation for both physical and mental well-being.
Sport provides a community of athletes and supporters that transcends rank, role and regiment and forges bonds that last a lifetime
We are for the Senior Service as much as we are for your junior cousins - and we’ll be here for you while you are serving, when you have left and after you have gone.
The Royal British Legion is extremely proud to sponsor Royal Navy Rugby League and we are honoured to be supporting the inaugural Inter Services Wheelchair Rugby League competition at HMS Nelson.
We hope you enjoy a terrific day of Service rugby”.

The prime mover for this exciting extension to Royal Navy Rugby League is our very own Head Coach CPO Steve Lockton who summed up the competition as follows.
"This event is fundamentally about recovery, using the power of sport to support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) Servicemen and women. Sport is proven to enhance the physical, psychological and social recovery of those that take part, increasing the participants’ autonomy and empowering individuals to make positive health and lifestyle choices. If you know of anyone within your department/units, please encourage them to take part in the inaugural Wheelchair Rugby League Competition".

The Competition will take place in HMS Nelson Gym, Portsmouth, on Fri 6 Sep, with the first match away at 1100.
Whilst there is no charge for entry access to HMS Nelson is only open to Service or accredited MOD Civilian ID Card holders however guests may be signed in but must be escorted at all times.