Wales Wheelchair name squad, leadership team for USA tour
Wales Wheelchair head coach Alan Caron has named his leadership group for the 2024 USA tour that takes place in a few weeks.
Jodie Boyd-Ward of Leeds Rhinos and Gary Preece of Hereford Harriers have been named co-captains of the side for the week in South Carolina, whilst Martin Lane, a Super League winner with Wigan Warriors last season, and Stephen Halsey of North Wales Crusaders have been named joint vice-captains.
Wales are travelling to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina to play two full international matches against USA on February 2-3.
They will be the first world-ranking matches that Wales Rugby League has ever played in the Americas, the first time that the Wales Wheelchair side has ever played outside of Britain and France and the first Wheelchair international matches to be played in the Americas.
Caron said: “With a week-long tour, you need a responsible leadership group amongst the players and I believe we’ve selected the right four players, we always wanted two captains and two vice-captains. They’ve all captained their clubs, so we know them as responsible leaders.
“Following the USA tour, we’ve the Celtic Cup later in Ireland later in the year. After this tour is over, we’ll review how the leadership group has worked and if we need to change anything.
"It will also depend on who wants to play of course as some players who are going to USA may not be available for Ireland or may want a rest. That’s part of the reason why we selected four people this time.
“We’re really looking forward to our week away representing Wales but we’ve a match against The Army first at Cwmbran Stadium on Sunday 14 January at 1.30pm and we hope to see as many people as possible there supporting us.”
Preece said: “To be selected for any sports team is always an honour and a privilege. I have been fortunate that I have the opportunity to play high-level rugby both in the running game and now the wheelchair game.
“To be selected to play for Wales has always been an honour, from my very first cap back in 2016 right up to now and to add to the honour, I’m delighted to be co-captain with Jodie Boyd-Ward.
“This tour is going to be exciting. The opportunity to play the USA on their own soil and be part of the first ever international wheelchair rugby league matches to be played in the Americas is a massive honour.
“We are going there as the number three ranked team in the world but we are under no misconceptions that the USA will be a tough test. We are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead of us.”
Boyd-Ward adds: “It’s a great honour to be appointed as one of the captains for the tour, especially given these are the first international games for Wheelchair Rugby League in America.
“This tour will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m excited to see how the USA have been developing since the World Cup and to also go out there and show them what we’ve been working on too. Roll on February.”
The squad contains eight of the 12 players who were in the World Cup squad in 2022.
Torfaen Tigers’ Alex Powell, who made his international debut against Ireland last year, is also included, as is Hereford’s Phillip Davies, who won five caps for Wales in 2019.
Caron said: “This really is going to be a special tour for Wales Rugby League. To be playing in the first Wheelchair international matches outside of Europe and Australia is going to be very historic.
"I feel I’ve picked a strong squad who will be able to give the USA a side a good game, and we know how good they are from their performances in the World Cup where they gave us a good game and beat a more experienced Scotland side.
“But the tour isn’t just about winning matches, we’ll be doing coaching sessions for players, coaches and match officials and we’ll be attending domestic matches over in South Carolina.
"We stayed in the same hotel as the USA side in the 2022 World Cup, so this tour is a continuation of a friendship between the two sides and long may it continue.”
For sponsorship opportunities, please email andy.morgan@walesrugbyleague.co.uk
Wales Wheelchair Squad: Phillip Davies, Andrew Higgins, Gary Preece (all Hereford Harriers), Martin Lane (Hereford Harriers/Wigan Warriors), Jodie Boyd-Ward (Leeds Rhinos), Harry Jones (North Wales Crusaders), Scott Trigg-Turner (North Wales Crusaders/London Roosters), Mason Baker, Stephen Halsey (both North Wales Crusaders/Warrington Wolves), Alex Powell (Torfaen Tigers).
Travelling Staff: Alan Caron (Head Coach), Gary Taylor (Assistant Coach), Stephen Jones (Team Manager), Alana Sargent (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Ian Golden (Media Manager), Kim Abel (Referee).
Wales v The Army is at Cwmbran Stadium on Sunday 14 January (kick-off 1.30pm). All spectators are welcome, free of charge.
Photo: Jodie Boyd-Ward and Gary Preece in action during the World Cup in 2022 (Ian Lovell)
