Wales Rugby League have been awarded the insport NGB Silver standard, showcasing our sustained development in inclusive leadership, governance, participation, and talent pathways.
The achievement demonstrates the sport’s expanding reach and its commitment to supporting disabled players, coaches, and volunteers. This includes the growing wheelchair and physical disability versions of the game.
Insport is a Disability Sport Wales (DSW) project which aims to support the physical activity, sport, and leisure sectors delivering inclusively of disabled people. Disability Sport Wales has developed it to support Clubs, National Governing Bodies (NGBs), Local Authorities, and third sector organisations in delivering excellent standards of inclusion for people with disabilities in sport and physical activity.
With both the club and NGB versions, it is broken down into four awards – Ribbon, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each award is then broken down into three sections – Workforce, Procedures and Communications, each with various subsections of the standards in each area needed to be met for the award to be issued. We are now level with sports such as football, swimming, tennis and athletics in Wales by holding Silver.
Stephen Jones, head of Wheelchair Rugby League in Wales, said: “When I was asked by Wales Rugby League to work with them on NGB insport and to get as far as possible in the programme, I didn’t quite realise how much work would be involved in getting us to Ribbon standard, never mind Silver.
“Saying that, it has been a pleasure to work with our DSW advisor Norman Greenwood, Donna Bullivant-Evans, the board and Adam Rowlands, this last two years to ensure we reached the Silver Standard and to show Disability Sports Wales that inclusion is at the very heart of what we do at Wales Rugby League. Despite not being a Para sport, I think it is essential that people with different abilities be welcomed into the sport of Rugby League in whichever form suits them the best.
“Preparing the presentation for the silver panel made us realise how far we have come on our inclusion journey and shows that all the hard work we put in is not just a tick box exercise, but a genuine desire by Wales Rugby League to make our offering to Wales as inclusive as possible. Once we have had time to digest our feedback and celebrate this massive achievement, we will start unpacking the Gold standard and let the hard work begin again.”
James Davies, Chairman of Wales Rugby League, said: “Governance is absolutely central to everything we do at Wales Rugby League. It underpins our five-year strategy, where the first pillar is built on progressive and robust governance. As our sport continues to grow—across communities and internationally—strong governance protects our brand, our values, and our identity as an inclusive nation. It is a testament to everyone involved that we have individuals who care deeply about governance and consistently push the boundaries to drive improvement. This recognition reflects that commitment and the standards we hold ourselves to every day.”
Wales Rugby League also extends special thanks to Norman Greenwood and Donna Bullivant-Evans for their mentorship and support throughout the process, as well as to Stephen Jones and Adam Rowlands for their continued drive, leadership, and ability to ensure that inclusion is lived out across everything the organisation does.
Disability Sport Wales issued a statement of congratulations: “Fantastic news! Wales Rugby League has achieved the insport NGB Silver standard!
“A brilliant step forward in their ongoing journey to grow inclusive opportunities across the sport and all their formats. Well deserved!
“Newyddion gwych! Mae Rygbi Cynghrair Cymru wedi cyflawni safon Arian NGB insport!
“Cam gwych ymlaen yn eu taith barhaus i dyfu cyfleoedd cynhwysol ar draws y gamp a’u holl fformatau. Haeddiannol!”
