Download Re-Imagining Rugby League and the Trumpet-Playing Star of Wheelchair Rugby
Dave Woods meets two leading figures from the wider world of rugby league to discuss the future of the game and highlight the growth and popularity of wheelchair rugby.
Matt Dwyer is Vice-president, Sports Management at IMG, the company tasked with “re-imagining” and re-shaping the future of rugby league with big ambitions for the sport at every level.
And Seb Bechara of Catalans Dragons is one of the biggest personalities in wheelchair rugby. His side face Leeds Rhinos in the Wheelchair Rugby Challenge Cup Final this weekend. Bechara, whose day job is a professional trumpet player, starred for England in last week’s win against France, but this weekend re-joins his club teammates to take on his international colleagues.
TIMECODES:
Matt Dwyer
3’16 “What we’re looking to do is re-imagine rugby league in the UK” – discusses their three-phase plan
8’50 On the future structure of the game
11’26 On international development including a future potential international club competition
17’08 On mergers between clubs and the experience of how its worked in Australia
26’00 How can RL get beyond current boundaries
31’52 Matt compares potential growth of rugby league to what they have achieved with Euroleague Basketball and World Table Tennis
Seb Bechara, wheelchair rugby league star of Catalans Dragons and England
37’53 Talks about choosing to play for England over France. Born in England to an English family but lived in France since aged 10. Talks of his “mega-pride of playing for England”
39’51 His journey on becoming a wheelchair rugby league player. Lost his leg in a motorbike accident in 2012 and how during rehab he discovered wheelchair basketball and then rugby league
42’18 On his career as a professional freelance trumpet player
47’23 Expectations for England in the World Cup and the fierce rivalry with France
50’14 The future of wheelchair rugby league and his ambition “to have club in every city”
52’30 On looking forward to “wiping smiles off Leeds Rhinos’ faces” this weekend in the Challenge Cup Final
Published on Wednesday, 22nd June 2022.
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