6th April 2023
In another exciting instalment added to our jam-packed championship schedule, our all-star Friday night fiesta will feature a star-studded our wheelchair rugby Celebrity Match! Renowned athletes from the wheelchair rugby and rugby world will rub shoulders with well-known celebrity faces as we pit them together in a Wales v England clash of titans.
The two teams will go head-to-head on Friday 5th May at 5.30pm, right before GB’s final pool game against Denmark. The celebrities will be hosted in the President’s Lounge after their match as part of the ‘Celebrity Match Reception’ hospitality package – the ideal way to round off the working week with drinks, street food and the best seats in the house.
Read on to discover your Wales and England teams (so far!)…
Your Welsh team…
Heading up the Reds for team Wales is GB Paralympic champion Jim Roberts MBE. A retired wheelchair rugby player, Jim won gold with GB in Tokyo so is expertly positioned to coach team Wales to victory in the Celebrity Match. Jim said: “I’m very excited to be involved – momentum has been really gathering for this event! As a Welshman, it will be such a fantastic opportunity to play in the Principality Stadium too.”
Others in the Welsh ranks include former Wales international rugby union player Dai Llewellyn and his son, Love Island star Liam Llewellyn, as well as Paralympic swimmer / wheelchair skateboarder extraordinaire, Lily Rice.
Heading up Team England…
The Roses will have none other than GB Paralympic champion Kylie Grimes MBE at the helm. The first woman to ever win Paralympic gold in wheelchair rugby, Kylie knows a thing or two about coaching for success. She said: “I’m really looking forward to being part of this England celebrity team! It’s amazing to be able to showcase our sport even further, and create a good hype before the GB team take to the stage.”
Former professional rugby player and broadcaster Ed Jackson will be joining Kylie in the celebrity match clash. He said: “After spending time in a wheelchair myself and having been lucky enough to be present for GB’s Tokyo glory, I am a massive fan of the sport and can’t wait to take part in this match. I’m not going to lie though, after seeing the pros do it up close, I’m definitely also a bit nervous!”
Finalising the current line up for England is the only female tetraplegic racing driver in the world, Nathalie McGloin. Nathalie said: “I can’t wait to play! Wheelchair rugby was always my first love and I owe everything I have achieved since my injury to this sport. Being part of GB wheelchair rugby showed me that there was life after spinal injury and I would not have gone on to become the first female tetraplegic racing driver in the world without it. Now I just need to remember how to play!”
And that’s just the start! Watch this space for more celebrity player announcements coming very soon…