Wales’ wheelchair rugby league team will be heading to Ireland to compete in the Celtic Cup this June.
The team will face both Scotland and Ireland in Galway on Saturday June 8 – with the teams playing a gruelling three 80-minute matches over a six-hour period.
Wales have won the last seven Celtic Cup competitions and are currently unbeaten in the tournament, with just a draw against Ireland last year spoiling their 100% record in the competition.
Alex Powell, from Penpedairheol, is included in head coach Alan Caron’s nine-player squad for this year’s competition.
Wales’ nine-player squad
Head coach Alan Caron has named the following nine players in Wales’ Celtic Cup squad:
- Richard Carver (Argonauts),
- Lee Sargent (Cardiff Blue Dragons),
- Scott Trigg-Turner (Cardiff Blue Dragons/London Roosters),
- Phillip Davies (Hereford Harriers),
- Mason Baker (North Wales Crusaders),
- Jess Booth (North Wales Crusaders),
- Martin Turner (North Wales Crusaders),
- Alex Powell (Torfaen Tigers),
- Mark Williams (Wigan Warriors).
Powell began playing wheelchair rugby league for Torfaen Tigers last year.
A former rugby union youth player with Nelson and the Dragons, Powell used to play alongside former Bedwas RFC and Dragons player, Jack Dixon, before an injury to his right leg broke his tibia and fibia.
In 2019, Powell was run over by a car and fractured his ankle in three places. After the accident, he developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which means he now walks with a stick.
In addition to playing wheelchair rugby league for Torfaen Tigers, he also turns out for the Dragons in their version of wheelchair rugby.
Powell was involved in the Wales side that travelled across the Atlantic earlier this year for two games against the USA in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Anyone wishing to make a donation towards Wales’ trip to Ireland can do so by visiting Wales Rugby League’s online crowdfunding page.
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