MARTIN’S WORLD CUP MISSION FOR NORWAY
ARUGBY league player and manager from Runcorn is heading to the World Cup as head coach for the Norwegian Wheelchair Rugby League team.
Martin Beddis, 48, said the appointment was “an honour” and he was relishing the challenge of the new role.
The 2021 competition, due to take place in England in November, will be the first time the male, female and wheelchair formats of rugby league will play in their respective World Cups, and is also Norway’s debut in the contest.
Wheelchair Rugby League is a variation of the running game – playing five-a-side with an oval ball and two 40-minute halves, rather than the Paralympic version.
Martin, who plays for Warrington Wolves Wheelchair team, has previously been capped internationally by both Scotland and Wales.
He is also player manager for England Wheelchair 7s which is a further variation based on the Rugby Union code, and when Covid-19 restrictions ease enough he will be head coach for Runcorn Ravens Wheelchair Sports Club.
Outside rugby, Martin is a married father-of-three and is in the process of starting his own wheelchair company Faraday Wheelchair Innovations, which will be based in Runcorn, and design and sell his own range of everyday and sporting wheelchairs.
Among those congratulating Martin on his appointment to the Norwegian team was Rugby League Norway, which said the organisation was looking forward to working with him and developing the “fantastic” sport of wheelchair rugby league.
Welcoming the role, Martin said: “It’s an honour to take charge of the Norwegian Wheelchair team and also to develop the sport of Wheelchair Rugby League in Norway.
“I am looking forward to the challenges this role brings to get the team ready to compete with the world’s best teams at the 2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.”
I’m looking forward to the challenges this role brings Martin Beddis