Charlie

Name/nickname: Charlie

Pronouns: He/him

Year started playing/involved in wheelchair rugby? 2025

Role/discipline played? WR5s

How you got into wheelchair rugby? Joe invited me to have a go. Loved it from the start! It was great timing as it was only in 2025 that I properly clocked how resistant I’ve been to team sports since breaking my back in 2003 (yep, that long!)

Favourite thing about wheelchair rugby? The physical intensity, the tactics on both a team level and player-vs-player, and the lovely team members.

Best moment playing wheelchair rugby? Meeting great people

And less about Wheelchair Rugby…

Sporting hero? None. Wheelchair rugby is the first sport I’ve found interesting; within this world, I’m in awe of Ed’s ability to weave through spaces I didn’t know existed.

Three words to describe me? Determined, playful, honest

One thing people don’t know about me? A doctor told me I’d never ride a bicycle again and never have children naturally due to my spinal cord injury. That fired me up to cycle across the UK on a regular bicycle, unsupported, from Lands End to John O’Groats. I did so, well, almost, running out of time and money 20 miles short of John O’Groats. And didn’t want to be stranded by ridiculous Scottish buses not letting bikes onboard - so I’d then have to cycle another 20 miles after ‘finishing’ to catch the train home. Now 15 years later and I still haven’t finished (tried and failed in 2023); will do one day. And two wonderful kids born naturally.

Favorite pre game song? Prodigy - Voodoo People (Eskimo remix)

Other sports played? Cycling (unsteadily), swimming, off-road motorbiking, kayaking (wanting to get back into it)