Saints Wheelchair Rugby will host the third round of the 2023 Midlands Development League competition at Arena Sports Kettering from 10am on Sunday 3 December.
Northampton’s Wheelchair Rugby side – who are supported by Travis Perkins and RedHatPhoto – will take to the court for the penultimate time this year in Kettering, with Leicester Tigers, Norfolk Knights and Coventry Stampede all heading to town to try to top the Midlands Development League standings.
Each team hosts one round of the competition, with Norfolk and Leicester already accommodating tournaments in May and October, and Coventry to follow before Christmas.
Saints won the Midlands Development League in 2022, and Head Coach Jamie Higgins is urging Northampton’s supporters to head along for some or all the event (which concludes around 4.30pm) to cheer on the team.
“There’s some big hits, the same as our supporters would see watching Saints on the rugby pitch,” he said. “They will also see a lot of heart from our players.
“Our Saints Wheelchair Rugby players represent the badge in the same way as our Saints first XV do. They wear the badge with pride, and they play with pride.
“If you haven’t been to see it before, I’d definitely encourage you to come and have a look, support the team and see people playing rugby to the best of their ability and overcoming their disabilities.”
Jamie Higgins, Saints Wheelchair Rugby Head Coach
The Midlands Development League provides the perfect platform for the Club’s up-and-coming players to mix with more experienced heads to develop their game, in the hope they can eventually make the step-up into the first team during the summer WR5s Premiership competition.
The event on 3 December will also see a GBWR junior development session taking place, as part of the Club’s partnership to deliver the sport’s national governing body’s junior programme, with a junior match also scheduled at Arena Sports Kettering on the day.
Higgins added: “The idea behind the Development League is to have a tournament where we have some friendly competition, but we’re able to develop new players.
“So, when we get new players, rather than try and take them to a national competition and try to teach them and develop them as players in that environment, we can get them some games throughout the year in the Development League.
“They gain experience and develop more as players before we throw them into the WR5s league competitions.
“Our own development programme at Saints is going really, really well. We’re still having a regular influx of new players coming in, trying the sport and staying.
“The new players are coming in and holding their own on court, and are looking really strong and picking the game up really well.”
If you want to cheer on Saints Wheelchair Rugby on Sunday 3 December, head down to Arena Sports Kettering where admittance is free on the day.
