ray

Name/nickname: Ray/Stingray

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Year started playing/involved in wheelchair rugby? 2025 (May to be precise)

Role/discipline played? WR5s

How you got into wheelchair rugby? I got into wheelchair rugby after taking a few years out after international competitive Para Rowing and declared myself retired. I still trained 4-5 day a week in my home gym and was approached Joe asking if he could persuade me to come out of retirement and try wheelchair rugby. I eventually agreed to come for a training session and fell in love with the game. This gives me an outlet for all the strength and energy I have and can use it positively.

Favourite thing about wheelchair rugby? is how welcoming the whole team have been to have a complete novice come in and try to play with the team. Everyone is so welcoming and understanding

Best moment playing wheelchair rugby?  I’ve only played for a few weeks so very limited here but has to be scoring in tournaments which felt really good to represent a team again

And less about Wheelchair Rugby…

Sporting hero?

Dave Smith MBE (GB Para Rower 2012 Gold medal) Dave has represented the country as an Olympian and Para athlete in multiple sports bobsleigh, Karate, Rowing, Cycling. Dave was my hero as a Rower and we lived in the Paralympic village for a brief time during the Sochi 2014 winter Paralympic Games while supporting Great Britain on an inspiration tour. I felt I learned so much from Dave and still to this day ask myself “what would Dave do”?

This relates to asking yourself every day for every thing you do, will it make the boat go faster and only continuing with positive actions that would contribute to making the boat go fastest.

As a cancer survivor multiple times Dave has and still inspires me to continue pushing hard as I can,I could go on all day about Dave a Hero, my mate a brother ❤️

Three words to describe me?

determined, motivated, loyal

One thing people don’t know about me?

This one is hard because I do openly share quite a lot on social media and having a military background I have many secrets people don’t know and either can’t disclose or can’t. After having a few years out many people won’t know about my successes with international ParaRowing from world champs gold medals to world records

Favorite pre game song?

Rock music

From AC/DC Back in Black to Rhunderstruck

Other sports played?

Para Rowing/Rowing, Obstacle Course Race (OCR)