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| Full name | Thomas Edward Halliwell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 July 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Tom Halliwell OBE 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.
In the King's 2023 Birthday Honours he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to wheelchair rugby league football. [1]
Tom Halliwell is an able-bodied wheelchair rugby league player. He originally played the running game at youth level but suffered a severe leg fracture, aged 13, while at Oulton Invaders. [2] Following initial recovery, but while still unable to play the running game, Halliwell took up wheelchair rugby league with Leeds Rhinos. He never returned to the running game, having established himself as part of the Leeds squad. [3] [4]
Tom Halliwell was part of the Leeds squad which won their first ever national championship in 2018 and was named MVP. [5] He again was a key player in Leeds's 2021 Super League Grand Final victory against Layland Warriors. [6]
Halliwell made his England debut aged 16 at the European Championship in 2015. England won the tournament and Halliwell was their top scorer with 88 points. [7] [8] He represented England at the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in 2017 [9] where England finished runners-up losing to France in the final. [10] Halliwell was announced as captain in June 2021 ahead of a friendly against Wales. [7] Halliwell scored three tries in the game winning 102–22. [11] His first World Cup as captain was in 2022, following the postponement of the 2021 tournament. [12] England finished the tournament as champions, beating France 28–24. [13] He played in England's 2023 international series wheelchair game against France. [14]
Adrian Paul Morley is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop or second-row forward. With a reputation as a tough, uncompromising competitor, Morley was the first British player to become a Grand Final winner in both the National Rugby League and Super League.
Kevin Sinfield is an English rugby union coach, currently the skills and kicking coach for the England national team. He is a former professional rugby league player for Leeds Rhinos, England and Great Britain. His usual position was loose forward, although he played stand-off and hooker on occasion.
Alaimatagi "Ali" Lauitiiti is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, as a second-row. He was touted as "The Michael Jordan of Rugby League" in his playing days due to his large hands and athleticism.
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.
Willie Poching is a New Zealand professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the former head-coach of Wakefield Trinity in the Super League. When he was appointed head coach of Wakefield, he became the first Samoan head coach of a first grade rugby league club. A former New Zealand, and Samoa international representative forward, he spent his career playing for clubs in New Zealand, Australia and finally England, winning the Super League championship with Leeds Rhinos in 2004.
Lee Smith is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a goal-kicking centre, wing or fullback for the Leeds Rhinos in Betfred Super League.
Tom Briscoe is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for Hull FC in the Super League and has played for England at international level.
Matthew Prior is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as prop and loose forward for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League.
Kallum Paul Watkins is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or second-row forward for the Salford Red Devils in the Betfred Super League and England at international level.
2008 was celebrated in Australia as the centenary of rugby league football, as in Australia it was in 1908 that the code broke away from rugby. The highlight of the year was the World Cup, which was held in Australia in October and November 2008.
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.
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.
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 final of the 2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup was one of three finals of the integrated 2021 Rugby League World Cup. It was played at Manchester Central Convention Complex in Manchester on 18 November 2022, the day before the men's and women's finals.
Jodie Boyd-Ward is a wheelchair rugby league footballer who has played for three different nations at three consecutive Wheelchair World Cups. Boyd-Ward represented 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.
Jack Brown is an English wheelchair rugby league player born in Halifax, West Yorkshire. He currently plays for North Queensland Cowboys in Australia's Wheelchair NRL and the England national wheelchair rugby league team.
Jérémy Bourson is a French wheelchair rugby league player who currently plays for Catalans Dragons in Elite One Championship and the France national wheelchair rugby league team.
Rob Hawkins is an English wheelchair rugby league player who currently plays for Halifax Panthers in RFL Wheelchair Super League and the England national wheelchair rugby league team.
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.
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.
