LAYTH
CLUB FOUNDER
THE ATTACKER
Layth founded the club and his sheer determination got us to our first competitive tournament in 2019. We finished second in our first national tournament weekend, narrowly losing out in the final. Layth plays a s a forward and is very powerful in full flight. His speed helps him stay ahead of the rest and is always poised to score. Layth is also the clubs top new player recruiter. Layth is happy stopping anyone in the street to ask if they fancy playing wheelchair rugby. A real go getter.
MICK
THE BULLDOZER
CLUB CHAIRMAN
Mick is the club club chairman and is always the first to get into a chair at training. Mick has been with the club form the start and was recruited by his good friend Layth. Mick took over as Chairman in 2020 and is trying to help grow the club, both financially and increasing wheelchair sport in the north east. Mick is a a real bulldozer in a wheelchair and helps at training every week, week in, week out. Mick is an ex rugby player and is very competitive, to say the least. Mick is only allowed to train with the team and is not able to take part in competitions, but he is always there to support the team.
JOHN
THE THINKER
FUTURE STAR
John is the one of the newest editions to the team. John was recruited by Layth approaching him on the street. John turned up to training and was immediately hooked to wheelchair rugby fives. John is fit and his strength is building every week. His understanding of the game is growing quickly, week by week. We are all looking forward to John being part of team in our coming national wheelchair rugby fives competitions. John is a future star.
SAM
MAN ABOUT TOWN
CLUB SOCIAL REP
Sam has been with the club from the start and is an integral part of the team. Sam is a defensive machine, however, don’t underestimate him, he can score a try or throw an amazing pass to put someone else in, given the opportunity. Sam is a true team player and his skill, strength and stamina has improved drastically over the last 3 years. Sam has a bright future in wheelchair rugby and has the smile to match.
JACK
THE PHYSIO
CLUB PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Jack is undertaking a masters in physiotherapy at Northumbria University and is also the club’s physio and strength and conditioning coach. Jack started to volunteer in 2021 and is already an integral part of the team. Jack jumps in a chair every Tuesday at training to ensure he understands the physical exertion the players are required to propel the chairs.
Jack has started to work on injury prevention and has also agreed to hold an extra session for all our players at our local gym (Gym Possible), to work on player specific strength and conditioning.
ADAM
THE COACH
CLUB COACH, CAPTAIN & VICE CHAIRMAN
Adam has been a breath of the fresh air in the club. Adam is not only a player, but he is also the coach, vice chairman of the club, club captain, head of grants and fundraising, along with being the chair maintenance guy. Adam has jumped into the club with both feet. Adam is our link to our governing body the GBWR and is undergoing training to becoming a referee. Adam used to play rugby when he was younger and has picked up the sport with ease. Adam is now working on our team tactics as a coach, officiating competitions, helping run the club, all alongside being a player and club captain. Adam also heads up our grants and funding applications and was integral to our amazing fundraising year in 2020.
NICOLE
THE MAGICIAN
ADOPTED GEORDIE
Nicole is an amazing athlete who regularly competes in wheelchair basketball and she picked up wheelchair rugby with ease. Nicole is a magician in a wheelchair and glides around the court, and is always in the right place at the right time. She reads the game with ease. Nicole is a magician on the court.
In our first tournament in 2019 at Stoke Mandeville Stadium we adopted the wonderfully talented Nicole. Nicole arrived at the tournament looking to join a team to play with and we welcomed her with open arms. Nicole is now an adopted Geordie, even though she lives ‘darn sarf’. Nicole has played in everyone of our tournaments so far, as the competition is in the south, she turns up every time and becomes a geordie for the day.
CARL
SPEEDY TRICKSTER
ATTACKING CAPTAIN
Carl joined the team in 2019 and is a natural wheelchair rugby player. Carl, is quick, strong, fit and has great hand to eye co-ordination. Carl is the try scorer in and is the man who is lucky enough to finish off all the teams hard work. Carl is very quick, but he is also very agile in a chair, so he is very difficult to stop in full flight. Carl heads up the teams attack, but he is always working back to defend. A great all rounder with the eye for the try line.
ROSS
THE WORK HORSE
ROSS NEVER GIVES UP
Ross has recently changed from attacker to defender. This change is one that allows us to have a defender who is as fast as any attacker and has the attacking know how to defend with ease. A poacher tuned game keeper. Ross is studying medicine at Newcastle University and is originally from Bolton. Ross has taken his new defensive move with gusto and we can’t wait to see how this transition works in our coming national wheelchair rugby tournaments in 2021.
KEV
THE ROCK
DEFENSIVE CAPTAIN
Kev has been with the team from the start and is the clubs defensive rock. Alongside Kev’s defensive skills he is the life and soul of the club. Kev is the first to have a laugh and joke and always has a smile on his face. Although Kev is a defender, he is also as quick as any attacker and generals our team in defence. Kev leads by example and has attended all our tournaments to date. A great player and nice bloke.