National wheelchair rugby tournament takes place in Plymouth
A wheelchair rugby coach from Plymouth has credited the sport with rebuilding his life following a serious car crash. Adam Simmons, coach and chairman of the Plymouth-based West Country Hawks, broke his neck after falling asleep at the wheel in 2003. "It was late at night, I think I fell asleep at the wheel, and woke up two weeks later in Derriford and broke my neck," he said. But four years later he discovered his new hobby, which he said gave him confidence, as well as a new career.
Mr Simmons added: "My life has gone in a completely different avenue to where it was, I worked for the local supermarket at the time."Afterwards, I went to Plymouth University, did a law degree, I taught law for a few years and now I work for Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby's National governing body as their competitions manager so it's been an interesting ride."The wheelchair rugby coach now has a national tournament to prepare for with his team, which will be held at the Plymouth Life Centre on Saturday and Sunday. The Hawks will compete in league two of the competition.
'Going to be great'
Mr Simmons said: "It's very rare that we have a national wheelchair rugby tournament down in Plymouth."It's the biggest tournament that we run for our calendar, 20 teams across the two days with lots of players, lot's of people coming down, it's going to be great." The Allied Mobility Wheelchair Rugby 5s or WR5s, is open to anyone with a permanent physical disability or impairment that prevents them from playing running rugby.Games get under way at 09:00 BST and run until 16:00 with free entrance to all spectators.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
BBC is showing Bargain Hunt and Homes Under the Hammer repeats instead of Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter's doubles match... again
The BBC has been criticised for showing two-year-old repeats of Bargain Hunt and Homes Under the Hammer instead of Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter 's doubles match at Queen's. The British tennis pair played their quarter-final of the Queen's Club Championships earlier today, but the footage was not even available on the BBC website for the majority of the match. It comes after the corporation also failed to broadcast the British duo's opening round win against Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu on Monday. When their latest match began at noon today, BBC One had opted to show a two-year-old episodes of Homes Under The Hammer and Bargain Hunt, The Telegraph reported. Meanwhile BBC Two was showing Politics Live, providing reaction to the Government's spending review. Coverage for Raducanu and Boulkter's match eventually became available on the iPlayer deep into the second set. With just enough time for viewers to see the British pair lose in straight sets 6-2, 7-5. On Monday, the BBC had showed live coverage of British number 3 Sonay Kartal's win in the singles against Daria Kasatkina instead of the British pair's first round match. Kartal's match was also available on iPlayer with highlights of another match involving Brazilian player Beatriz Haddad Maia as she defeated Czech player Petra Kvitova. The Lawn Tennis Association, which hosts Queen's in Eastbourne, could not move the game to the main arena due to contractual obligations made with the Women's Tennis Association. The WTA mandates that four single matches are played on Centre Court each day, meaning there is no room for doubles matches to be played despite interest in the British pair. Their opening match was only featured briefly as part of the coverage on BBC Two before it returned to coverage of Kartal's match. The BBC previously told The Telegraph after the first round match: 'Our TV coverage at Queens covers one court with one feed and we were broadcasting GB's [Great Britain] Sonay Kartal's Centre Court singles match on BBC Two. 'We provided regular updates on Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter's doubles match on BBC Two and the BBC Sport website where fans can enjoy all the stories that define this historic tournament.'
BBC News
36 minutes ago
- BBC News
Hundreds sign petition over Birmingham Alexander Stadium management plan
More than 700 people have signed a petition calling on Birmingham City Council "to halt the planned handover" of the running of the Alexander venue formed the centrepiece of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but now is at the centre of a row between its owners, the local authority, and local want a public consultation into plans to hand the running of the site and attached gym to Birmingham Community Leisure Trust (BCLT) and its partners Serco until council said the site would remain in public ownership, but like other leisure venues would be run on its behalf by BCLT, which had a "proven track record" in improving public participation while lowering costs. The stadium was revamped with more than £70m of public funding in preparation for the Commonwealth Games, with politicians, including then Prime Minister Theresa May promising it would benefit the local organisers have called for local residents and gym users to be able to have their say on the proposals. 'Best value' Petition organiser Andrew Gulliver cited a report to the council's cabinet in March, which said no "further consultation has been undertaken" over the proposed contract change. The report said the council had a contract with BCLT for operating other leisure centres and the proposal to incorporate managing the stadium would secure "best value" from the remaining time of the contract until the petition statement asks the authority to commit to exploring alternative management options, including a "council-run, non-profit or community-led model that can meet savings targets".The March local authority report said under the plans the stadium would attract more users, leading to higher membership and usage fees that would deliver a £300,000 a year saving. It said it was essential the facility "transitions to its most efficient and effective operating model" and outsourcing management would mean better "community engagement".The authority told the BBC it had agreed to establish a gym user group with council and BCLT representatives "to work through issues and concerns". Planned improvements included a new 120-station health and fitness suite, a new artificial pitch for football and rugby, a new cycle studio and a refurbished indoor athletics hall, it completed stadium regeneration "delivers a lasting" Games legacy in promoting sport and recreation "for not just the people of Perry Barr but the whole city", the council said. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Sun
43 minutes ago
- The Sun
England footie ace Millie Bright misses OBE ceremony with Prince William as she's on crutches with knee injury
LIONESSES ace Millie Bright missed a date with Prince William yesterday — as she is on crutches. The England defender, 31, is recovering from surgery to fix a knee injury which forced her to pull out of the Euro 2025 squad. 3 It also meant she missed her investiture at Windsor Castle, where she was due to receive an OBE. Instead, the Chelsea player hobbled along with her pet dog yesterday near her Surrey home. It comes after The Sun revealed she had split from her fiancé. An onlooker said: 'Millie's had a chaotic few weeks with news of her split and pulling out of the England squad. "But she's as tough in real life as she is on the pitch.' We revealed on Saturday how Millie had f allen for a personal trainer, and named him yesterday as married dad-of-seven Dave Zetolofsky, 39. England's World Cup captain last week made herself unavailable for this summer's Euros — stating she was unable to 'give 100 per cent mentally or physically'. She was said to be in turmoil after splitting from hubby-to-be Levi Crew and growing close to tattooed martial arts enthusiast Dave, who has been seen moving into her property. However, she has told friends her new romance has nothing to do with her squad withdrawal. There is also no suggestion that the pair cheated on their partners. Dave's wife Katie is said to be 'devastated'. A source said yesterday: 'Millie and Dave's relationship has rocketed. STAR'S NEW LOVE England footie ace Millie Bright's hunky new personal trainer lover revealed as kickboxer dad of SEVEN "They are smitten. It's tough on their former partners but they are trying to navigate through the turbulence as best they can and concentrate on a future together.' Millie was awarded her OBE after winning the 2022 Euros and captaining England to the 2023 World Cup final. Everton manager David Moyes was among those to receive the gong yesterday, and revealed he and Aston Villa fan Wills discussed football.
