At Leicester Tigers Supporters Awards evening last week, fans and the club recognised the achievements of all associated with Tigers, including the league-winning Leicester Tigers wheelchair rugby team. 

Team members from the wheelchair rugby team were present as Darren Bragg and Matt Sullivan picked up the Players’ Player of the Year and Coaches’ Player of the Year awards respectively. 

This year saw the team crowned BT Super Series Division One champions for the first time in the top division of the sport. Leicester also hosted the Quad Nations event earlier this year welcoming national sides from the USA, Australia and Japan.

Catching up after receiving their awards, Darren, who is the oldest player in the Great Britain league, said: “It feels great to be picked by the players for this award. The season has gone really well for me personally and for the team.

“At 54 years young, I am struggling with recurring injuries and I have to look after what function I have. As for next year I will try to keep as fit as I can and do some occasional training with the lads when my body allows me to do so.

“I broke my neck in 1994 and I used to watch - what I thought - were crazy lads smashing into each other in wheelchairs. I first tried the sport out myself in 1996 at a training session and the rest is history, I have now been playing for about 22 years!”

Looking towards next season, Matt, who picked up the Coaches Player award, said: “Next season we hope to develop the squad and attract some new players to add to the team’s strengths. We narrowly missed out in the Nationals in the end, but what a season and we’ll aim to keep going.”

Next up for members of the Team GB set-up is the World Championships in Sydney, Australia from August 5 – August 10. 

Team GB were last week drawn in Pool B of the tournament alongside United States, Canada, France, Columbia and Poland 

Team selection will be made towards the end of May.

Find out more about the Leicester Tigers wheelchair rugby team at the link below.