A pioneering wheelchair rugby league coach from Wrexham is one of seven sporting 'Game Changers' honoured in a heartfelt poem unveiled across four iconic UK venues as part of The National Lottery’s 30th Birthday celebrations.
Stephen Jones, Head Coach and Chairman of North Wales Wheelchair Rugby League & Disability Sports Club, is celebrated in one of seven verses that together form a powerful tribute crafted by world-renowned Scottish contemporary artist and poet Robert Montgomery. Each verse, honouring a different 'Game Changer', has been unveiled at a significant sporting location across the UK.
The verse recognising Jones's groundbreaking efforts to make wheelchair rugby league more accessible was revealed at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. This iconic venue is a fitting location, given its own remarkable National Lottery legacy. Built with a record-breaking £46.3 million National Lottery grant - the largest single grant ever awarded to a Welsh project - the Principality Stadium has become a symbol of Welsh sporting pride and has hosted major rugby league events, including the opening ceremonies of both the 2000 and 2013 Rugby League World Cups.
Jones's journey from player to community leader is truly inspiring. Since founding his club in April 2013, he has transformed wheelchair rugby league in North Wales, making it accessible to people of all abilities. Under his guidance, the club has nurtured 16 international players and become a vital community hub, even expanding during the challenges of the pandemic.
One touching example of the club's impact is the story of Ted, who joined at 13. Initially terrified of using a wheelchair due to his cerebral palsy, Ted has since blossomed into a Welsh international player - a testament to Jones's passionate belief in the power of disability sports.
National Lottery funding has been crucial to this success, providing essential equipment like sports wheelchairs. The club now boasts three teams competing in various leagues - a UK first - and has seen remarkable membership growth.
Stephen Jones said: “I fell in love with wheelchair rugby league purely because it's so diverse. Anyone can play. It's totally inclusive at the moment. We've got an 11-year-old and a 70-year-old. We've got a trans player, we've got amputees, we've got people like my son, who has epilepsy. I'm so passionate that we need sports for disabled people and with the help of National Lottery funding we’ve been able to move the dial on that significantly.”
