Page 9 - Eagle Eye Spring 2022

in top level competition, so the sport is truly considered inclusive. I was invited to attend a couple of weekend training camps, where I was subsequently introduced to the sport and put through my paces. The resultant training sessions proved to be strangely familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
The wheelchair version of the sport is almost a copy of the able-bodied game, with the offensive team having five plays to score a try, while the defensive team endeavours to try and stop them. I found many skills, techniques and approaches used within the running game were transferable, with the main differences being the need to utilise a wheelchair rather than being reliant on using your legs. In addition, teams are four metres apart at the play of the ball rather than ten and you ‘kick’ conversions, penalties and drop goals with your hands.
Now I must have been doing something right, or shown some potential, because I was unexpectedly asked to attend the 2019 Tri-Nations in Wrexham, where Scotland were due to play against Wales and England. Normally, the competition would also have included Ireland, to create a Four Nations Tournament, however on this occasion they weren’t able to field a team. Due to my lack of previous experience, I had only expected to fulfil a substitute’s role, with the hope of
potentially getting to play a couple of minutes if the situation arose, however that wasn’t the case. As I soon found out, the coaching staff had other ideas...
Much to my surprise, I ended up playing 40 minutes in both the corresponding fixtures, which certainly proved to be a steep learning curve. Although the results on the day didn’t ultimately go our way, they certainly didn’t reflect the Scotland team’s passion, commitment or determination. Despite being beaten by two much better sides, the whole experience was outstanding. Being introduced to the crowd as part of the Scotland squad, and subsequently singing ‘Flower of Scotland’ prior to the first game, is a memory I will never forget.
Fast forward 18 months and I was again selected to represent Scotland in the Celtic Cup competition at Edinburgh University’s Sport & Exercise Pleasance Facility. The Celtic Cup is an annual tournament played between Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Prior to the tournament, the Scotland team had instilled a new coaching set-up who decided to use the competition as part of their preparation for the forthcoming Rugby League World Cup. This resulted in them trialling new players, often in different positions, and changing the team’s composition at regular intervals. Despite these limiting factors, the Scotland
side played well, producing competitive performances in both games.
After the games, I was retrospectively awarded my official Scotland cap along with five other squad members, which was an incredibly proud and surreal moment. When I was diagnosed with HSP in 2007, I thought my days of playing sport, especially rugby, were well and truly over, which I found very difficult to come to terms with at the time. However, the ability to access and play adaptive sports has given me a whole new lease of life and has provided me with an unexpected opportunity to represent my country at an international level.
The RAF Wyton Adaptive Sports Club is looking to provide a focal point for any WIS personnel, to access, trial, or partake in adaptive sports. In addition, these sports can also be utilised by those with shorter-term injuries, as part of their sports recovery, to help maintain fitness levels, build resilience and preserve wellbeing. If you are interested in taking up the opportunity of playing any form of adaptive sports, whether it be archery; rowing; wheelchair rugby, basketball, tennis, or badminton; cycling either recumbent or hand bike; sitting volleyball or sledge hockey (adapted ice hockey) to name but a few, please contact Flt Lt Matt Parle on x5636 or Midge Hartley on x5415 for further details.
When I was diagnosed with HSP in 2007,
I thought my days of playing sport, especially rugby, were well and truly over
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