Jodie Boyd-Ward

Last updated
Jodie Boyd-Ward
Personal information
Born (1992-10-10) 10 October 1992 (age 31)
Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England
Playing information
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
2013–Leeds Rhinos
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
2012–13 Ireland 740016
2014–19 England 22150060
2021– Wales 15120048
Source: [1]
As of 7 March 2024

Jodie Boyd-Ward (born 10 October 1992) [2] is a wheelchair rugby league footballer who has played for three different nations at three consecutive Wheelchair World Cups. Boyd-Ward represents Wales at the 2021 tournament. Boyd-Ward has previously represented Ireland at the 2013 World Cup and England in the 2017 World Cup. Boyd-Ward plays domestic rugby for Leeds Rhinos wheelchair rugby league team.

Boyd-Ward was born in Wolverhampton. [1] She began to develop mobility issues as a youngster and was diagnosed with arthritis. [3] Initially she played wheelchair basketball before giving rugby league a try through her local sports club in Wolverhampton, a sport that at first she hated. [4] Encouraged by her grandfather, Boyd-Ward persevered with rugby and was approached by the Leeds Rhinos wheelchair team to move to Yorkshire [4] Through her parents Boyd-Ward qualified to represent Ireland and was selected by Ireland to play in the inaugural Wheelchair Four Nations in 2012. [5] Following her performances in the Four Nations Boyd-Ward was a member of the Ireland team during the 2013 Wheelchair World Cup. [6]

The following year Boyd-Ward changed allegiance to play for England in the 2014 Four Nations tournament and went on to make 20 appearances between 2014 and 2019 including the 2017 World Cup. [7] [3]

In 2021 Boyd-Ward was approached by Wales to play for the Wales national team. Qualified to represent the country through her grandfather, Boyd-Ward make her debut for Wales in 2021 against Ireland in the Celtic Cup. [7] Boyd-Ward was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed 2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup played in November 2022 in England. [8]

At domestic level Boyd-Ward has played for Leeds Rhinos since 2013 and has won all the domestic titles and was part of the Leeds team that won the Treble (Challenge Cup, League Leaders and Super League Grand Final) in 2021 as the team went unbeaten. Boyd-Ward is the current captain of Leeds Rhinos. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ireland national rugby league team</span> Represents Ireland in international rugby league

The Ireland men's national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, is organised by Rugby League Ireland and represents the entire isle of Ireland in international rugby league. The representative team is composed largely of players of Irish descent who compete in the Super League as well as the Australasian National Rugby League. Ireland is also represented by an Ireland A side, which is made up of players from the Irish domestic competition.

Wheelchair rugby league is a wheelchair-based version of rugby league football, one of two recognised disability versions of the sport. It was developed in France in 2000. Unlike other wheelchair sports, people without disabilities are allowed to compete in top-level competition. The sport is also unique in the fact that men and women of any age can play against each other in top-level competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richie Myler</span> England and Ireland international rugby league footballer

Richard David Myler is a retired rugby league footballer, who is currently the director of rugby for Hull FC in the Super League. He is a member of the Ireland squad for the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup, having declared for Ireland in 2022. Previously he has represented England and the England Knights at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevie Ward</span> English RL administrator and former professional rugby league footballer

Stevie Ray Ward is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row or loose forward for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup</span>

The 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup was the 16th Rugby League World Cup, and one of three major tournaments of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. The tournament was held in England from 15 October 2022 to 19 November 2022. It was originally due to be held between 23 October 2021 and 27 November 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent withdrawals of Australia and New Zealand caused the tournament to be postponed. 16 teams competed in the tournament, an increase of two from the previous two tournaments and the first to feature 16 teams since the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.

International rugby league matches were played throughout 2018.

The Woman of Steel is an award in English rugby league. It is awarded to the player of the year in the Women's Super League; the winner is determined by a poll of the players in the Women's Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jodie Cunningham</span> England international rugby league player

Jodie Cunningham is an English rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback or loose forward at international level for England and domestically for St Helens in the Women's Super League.

The England national wheelchair rugby league team represents England in wheelchair rugby league. The team have played in all four World Cup tournaments, winning both the inaugural competition in 2008 and the 2021 edition on home soil, and being runners up in both 2013 and 2017. They also won the 2015 European Rugby League Championship.

Francesca Goldthorp is an England international dual-code rugby footballer who plays for North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Women's Premiership primarily as a fullback. Previously she played for Leeds Rhinos in the RFL Women's Super League where she predominantly played at centre or wing.

The 2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup will feature eight international teams, with each consisting of up to a twelve-man squad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup</span> International rugby league tournament

The 2021 Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup, also known as the 2021 PDRL World Cup, was the first world cup for physical disability rugby league. The tournament was held from 23 October to 30 October 2022 in Warrington, England, alongside the main tournaments of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. The tournament was originally planned as part of the 2021 Festival of World Cups, which was due to take place in the summer of 2021, but was rescheduled following the postponement of the festival. England defeated New Zealand 42–10 in the final to become the first world champions. Third place went to Wales who defeated Australia 32–18 in a play-off.

The Wales national wheelchair rugby league team represents Wales in wheelchair rugby league. They have competed at the World Cup, the European Championships and several tournaments within the British Isles, such as the Celtic Cup and Four Nations competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ireland national wheelchair rugby league team</span>

The Ireland national wheelchair rugby league team represents Ireland in wheelchair rugby league. They have competed at the World Cup, the European Championships, the Celtic Cup and Four Nations competitions.

The RFL Wheelchair Super League is the highest level of wheelchair rugby league in England and Wales.

Rugby league is an increasingly popular sport for women in Great Britain.

The 2017 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup was the third staging of the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup. The tournament was held from 20 July to 28 July 2017 and was originally planned to be held in Sydney, Australia, as part of the 2017 Festival of World Cups but was relocated to France. The tournament was won by France who defeated England 38–34 in the final in Perpignan to retain the title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Halliwell</span> English wheelchair rugby league player

Tom Halliwell is an English wheelchair rugby league player who currently plays for Leeds Rhinos in RFL Wheelchair Super League and the England national wheelchair rugby league team whom he has captained since 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Collins (wheelchair rugby league)</span> English wheelchair rugby league player

Nathan Collins is an English wheelchair rugby league player who currently plays for Leeds Rhinos in RFL Wheelchair Super League and the England national wheelchair rugby league team.

LCpl James Simpson is an English former soldier of the British Army and wheelchair rugby league player, and current wheelchair rugby league coach who is currently the head coach of Leeds Rhinos in the RFL Wheelchair Super League whom he spend his entire playing career. He also had an extensive international career representing the England national wheelchair rugby league team.

References

  1. 1 2 "Player Profile –Jodie Boyd-Ward". Wales Rugby League. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  2. "Jodie Boyd-Ward". National Rugby League. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Good luck to our colleague Jodie in the wheelchair rugby World Cup". ASDA. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Wheelchair RL: Jodie Boyd-Ward blazing a trail for Leeds Rhinos and England". Yorkshire Evening Post. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  5. "England win Wheelchair Four Nations". European Rugby League. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  6. "Who are wheelchair rugby league's stars to watch?". BBC Sport. 1 November 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Jodie Boyd-Ward looks forward to facing up against England on Saturday – Wales Rugby League (WRL)". Wales Rugby League. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  8. Ibbetson, Stephen (16 October 2022). "In-form Wales confirm wheelchair squad for World Cup". TotalRL. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  9. "Welsh international Jodie Boyd-Ward named Rhinos Wheelchair captain". Leeds Rhinos Foundation. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2024.