The fourth season of the WRL Wheelchair League starts on Sunday 8th February with a truncated competition as a curtain-raiser to a big year ahead.
There are four Welsh clubs in this season’s opening tournament, two of them new to the fold.
It all starts with a double header of matches at Sue Noakes Leisure Centre in Ystrad Mynach where South Wales Jets are the hosts, facing last year’s champions North Wales Crusaders (kick-off 12.20pm). Immediately following this, Cardiff Blue Dragons face another new side in Aber Valley Wolves (kick-off 1.40pm).
A fortnight later, on Sunday 22nd January at Tonyrefail Leisure Centre, there’s another double header of matches. Cardiff Blue Dragons face South Wales Jets (kick-off 10.20am) before Aber Valley Wolves take on North Wales Crusaders (kick-off 11.40am).
Finally, on Saturday 28th February, there are matches at two different locations. At Plas Madoc Leisure Centre in Wrexham, North Wales Crusaders host Cardiff Blue Dragons (kick-off 10.30am), and at Caerphilly Leisure Centre, it’s Aber Valley Wolves v South Wales Jets (kick-off 11.20am).
The Grand Final will be between the top two clubs and will be played on Sunday 8th March at a venue TBC.
This competition is the first of three to be held by Wales Rugby League this year, as players get in maximum game time ahead of the World Cup in Australia in October and November.
In the middle of the year, there will be a South Wales Invitational League. This will be open to any English and Welsh clubs who wish to apply. More news about the application process later this year.
Then in September, there will be a two-week knock-out Cwpan Sialens Cadair Olwyn (Wheelchair Challenge Cup) tournament between the Crusaders, Wolves, Jets and Blue Dragons. A random draw will be made for semi-finals in week one, then in week two, a third place play-off and final will be held.
All this will be played around the Celtic Cup between Wales, Scotland and Ireland, plus other friendly matches involving Wales, with the World Cup in Wollongong, Australia, kicking off on Friday 30th October when Wales take on World Champions England.
Stephen Jones, head of Wheelchair Rugby League in Wales, said: “It’s great to be going into the fourth year of the Welsh League and for the first time with an all-Welsh line-up, including two new teams.
“Our hope is that, by the end of this year, and going into 2027, we’ll have at least two more teams involved. The future for the national side is looking bright as we head towards this year’s World Cup.”
Fixtures:
Sunday 8th February
12.20pm – South Wales Jets v North Wales Crusaders
1.40pm – Cardiff Blue Dragons v Aber Valley Wolves
(Both at Sue Noakes Leisure Centre, Ystrad Mynach)
Sunday 22nd February
10.20am – Cardiff Blue Dragons v South Wales Jets
11.40am – Aber Valley Wolves v North Wales Crusaders
(Both at Tonyrefail Leisure Centre)
Saturday 28th February
10.30am – North Wales Crusaders v Cardiff Blue Dragons (Plas Madoc Leisure Centre, Wrexham)
11.20am – Aber Valley Wolves v South Wales Jets (Caerphilly Leisure Centre, Caerphilly)
