Wales Rugby League’s Wheelchair international side are hoping to make it a double rugby league success against Scotland this weekend as the two national sides face off in a friendly match at Pleasance Sports Centre in Edinburgh on Saturday (2pm start).
Scotland and Wales’ full international “running rugby league” sides meet this Friday in Gala (kick-off 7.30pm) in the second week of this year’s Rugby League European Championships, which also acts as a World Cup qualifier.
The Wheelchair sides will be amongst the guests of honour at this match before clashing the next day.
The Wheelchair Rugby League friendly has been organised by the two Celtic nations after the Four Nations, originally scheduled for September, didn’t take place.
Wales, who beat Scotland earlier this year on their way to winning the Celtic Cup for the third year in a row, have named a six-player squad for the game with five coming from North Wales Crusaders.
Originally eight were selected but Stephen Halsey has had to withdraw after breaking a tendon in his finger in the recent Crusaders tournament, whilst Gary Preece had to withdraw for family reasons.
Wheelchair Rugby League is played with five players on the court at the same time.
Mark Andrew Jones, the Wales team manager, said: “Scotland and Wales are both frustrated that there is no Four Nations when it was originally planned for this autumn. England had arranged separately to play France so we arranged to play Scotland on the same weekend as the European Championship match.
“We are depleted in player strength but we still expect to continue our good record against other Celtic Nations. We do know that Scotland will give us a good game.
“It would be nice if some Welsh fans who are up in Gala on Friday night are able to support us in Edinburgh the next day. I know we’ll have a few from North Wales going and hopefully a few others may turn up if they have a weekend planned in Edinburgh.”
Wales Wheelchair Team v Scotland
Alan Caron (Hereford Harriers)
John Doyle (North Wales Crusaders)
Lucie Roberts (North Wales Crusaders)
Gary Taylor (North Wales Crusaders)
Mark Williams (North Wales Crusaders)
Stuart Williams (North Wales Crusaders)
Steve Jones (Head Coach)
Lyndon Price (Assistant Coach)
Mark Andrew Jones (Team Manager)